Digital Commons Network^™

True-Ed Select: A Machine Learning Based University Selection Framework, Jerry C. Cearley

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

University/College selection is a daunting task for young adults and their parents alike. This research presents True-Ed Select, a machine learning framework that simplifies the college selection process. The framework uses a four-layered approach including the user survey, machine learning, consolidation, and recommendation. The first layer collects both the objective and subjective attributes from users that best characterize their ideal college experience. The second layer employs machine learning techniques to analyze the objective and subjective attributes. The third layer combines the results from the machine learning techniques. The fourth layer inputs the consolidated result and presents a user-friendly list of …

Effect Of Care Environment On Educational Attainment Among Orphaned And Separated Children And Adolescents In Western Kenya, Dorothy Apedaile, Allison Delong, Edwin Sang, David Ayuku, Lukoye Atwoli, Omar Galárraga, Paula Braitstein

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: There are approximately 140 million orphaned and separated children (OSCA) around the world. In Kenya, many of these children live with extended family while others live in institutions. Despite evidence that orphans are less likely to be enrolled in school than non-orphans, there is little evidence regarding the role of care environment. This evidence is vital for designing programs and policies that promote access to education for orphans, which is not only their human right but also an important social determinant of health. The purpose of this study was to compare educational attainment among OSCA living in Charitable …

Child Labor In Myanmar, Alyssa Augustus

Ballard Brief

In Myanmar, there are approximately 1.1 million children between the ages of 5 to 17 involved in child labor. Domestic demand, familial poverty, Myanmar's education system, government laws, and filial piety perpetuate the employment of children. Child laborers suffer from physical health issues, are more likely to drop-out of school, and stall the growth of a skilled labor force in Myanmar. Focusing on educating child workers and re-funding the Myanmar Program on the Elimination of Child Labor can eliminate the number of children involved in the employment sector.

Plaster Creek Stewards - Urban Habitat Restoration With Green Team, Jia Luchs, Clare Doss, Rachel Warners, Dave Warners, Deanna Geelhoed

Student Papers and Reports

Plaster Creek, though its watershed is home to many potential stewards in Grand Rapids, is the most polluted creek in West Michigan. The Green Team, a branch of Plaster Creek Stewards, is a group of students that work during the summer with a focus on research, education, and working directly to restore the Plaster Creek Watershed. The Green Team works toward this goal through urban green infrastructure, utilizing native plants to manage stormwater. Two Calvin students, Jia Luchs and Clare Doss, and twenty high school students living in the Plaster Creek watershed were hired by Plaster Creek Stewards this summer …

Lack Of Quality Civic Education In Public Schools In The United States, Sydney Ward

Ballard Brief

A lack of quality civic education affects nearly every K-12 student in the United States. The content and methods of civic education curriculum focus on memorization, lecture, and textbook learning, creating an ineffective learning method for students. Teachers are met with polarized classrooms and communities, creating hesitancy to approach political topics while inequity in funding between states and districts leaves schools without consistent resources or emphasis on civics. legislative policies and nonprofit organizations have dictated some of civic education's most recent standards and practices, though this federal approach has not been universally adopted in local classrooms. As a result of …

Teacher Retention Policy Coherence: An Analysis Of Policies And Practices Across Federal, State, And Division Levels, Andrene Castro, Adria Hoffman, Jonathan D. Becker, David Naff, Peter S. Willis, Andy Kane

MERC Publications

As part of a larger MERC study, this report provides an overview of federal, state, and regional policies and practices relevant to teacher retention. Using key informant interviews and document analysis, the report addresses the following research questions: What teacher retention policies exist at the federal, state, and local levels? How are these policies structured at the state level and local levels? How do teacher retention policies vary across MERC divisions? Following the findings, the report presents recommendations for policy and practice.

Identity By Committee, Scott Skinner-Thompson

Publications

Even in school districts with relatively permissive approaches to defining and embodying gender, the identities of transgender and gender variant students are often governed by complex regulatory protocols. Ensuring that a student is able to live their gender at school can involve input from a host of purported stakeholders including medical providers, mental health professionals, school administrators, the student’s parents, and even the broader community. In essence, trans and gender variant students’ identities are governed by committee, which reduces students’ control over their lives, inhibits self-determination, constricts the scope of permissible gender identities, subjects them to incredible degrees of state …

The Suburbanization Of The Assyrian Refugees And Migrant Families And Its Implications On The Assyrian Ethnic Identity, Saidouri Zomaya

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis argues that living in Albany Park, Chicago, is a personal and unique experience for Assyrian refugees and migrant families despite mutual feelings of belonging that residents may experience while living in the neighborhood. Along with the social and political factors that impact one’s experience of mobility and integration, “agency” plays an instrumental role in deciding whether to remain connected to one's community, potentially impacting one’s Assyrian identity and future generations. I utilize a qualitative research approach by interviewing Assyrian refugees and migrant families to shed light on the stories of the Assyrian community in Chicago. This research demonstrates …

Experiences Of Mechanical Circulatory Support Patients With Primary Implant Education, Dawn Michelle Christensen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Advancement in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) device therapy has led to increased use in heart failure therapy and relies on optimized patient education for successful support. The purpose of this 3-manuscript study, guided by the Husserlian transcendental phenomenological method, was to explore the lived experiences of (a) patients with primary mechanical circulatory support education (PMCSE), (b) patients who undergo unplanned MCS implantation with PMCSE, and (c) patients who undergo planned MCS implantation with PMCSE. Eleven participants were recruited (eight planned, three unplanned) from MCS targeted social media sites and interviewed using a semistructured open-ended question format. Data were analyzed using …

Principals’ Transformational Leadership Practices In Increasing Reading Achievement For Ells, Michelle Jeffrey

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Principals in public schools are being challenged to improve English language learning (ELL) student achievement through transformational leadership practices. This qualitative study aimed to explore the aspects of transformational leadership that principals use to reduce the disproportionate level in state summative reading assessments between ELL students and their non-ELL peers. The conceptual framework that supported this study was Burns’ theory of transformational leadership. The research question focused on how principals in public school settings employed transformational leadership practices to support a reduction in ELL students’ disproportionate achievement in reading. Semi structured interviews were used to collect data from 10 principals …

Barriers To Technology Integration Perceived By Kindergarten Through Second-Grade Teachers, Jessica Levine

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A problem exists in southeastern United States where technology integration is limited in classrooms. Although researchers have found benefits for integrating technology, it was unknown why teachers were not integrating technology into instruction. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of teachers of kindergarten through second-grade students about the barriers for integrating technology into instruction and the support needed to effectively integrate technology. There have been studies about the barriers to technology integration experienced by teachers; however, it was uncertain what these barriers were for kindergarten through second-grade teachers. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory was the conceptual …

The Effects Of Stress Reduction For Healthcare Workers On Covid Units, Rosita Cynthia Mctaggart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rise of the COVID pandemic was a surprise to many. Since Florence Nightingale, society has suffered from various epidemic infectious diseases. This specific educational project was developed because of the stress and the aftereffects experienced by many healthcare workers coping with the working conditions related to COVID. This educational project is important because according to the World Health Organization, a healthy environment is a place for physical, mental, and social well-being, which supports optimal health and safety. Healthcare workers should be provided an educational program to assist them in minimizing stress. Havelock’s and Lewin’s theory of change was chosen …

Beyond The Basics: Educating Nurses At The Bedside About Evidence-Based Practice, Katherine D. Simpson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The nursing profession is a large and dynamic part of the healthcare industry with the greatest percentage of nurses practicing at the bedside. An increase in nursing professionalism with evidence-based practice has emerged over the past several decades. However, evidence continues to support a lack of knowledge among registered nurses in implementing evidence-based patient care at the bedside and the need for education related to evidence-based practice. The analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation model of instructional design framed this Doctor of Nursing Practice project. The purpose of the project was to fill the practice gap through the planning, implementation, …

Physical Activity Assessment And Staff Education For Oncology Nurses, Laurie Jean Tyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physical activity and mobility are key indicators of treatment and disease tolerance in cancer patients. Patients are living longer during and after cancer treatment, and staying active prevents many side effects of the disease and the treatment. Staying mobile also prevents some conditions from occurring including bone and muscle loss. A nursing educational platform was identified as a need in the facility site’s cancer center on the importance of patients staying physically active throughout cancer treatment. Nurses did not feel confident to coach patients on their activity levels which was an identified gap in their nursing practice. A nursing educational …

Elementary Teacher Perceptions Of Blended Learning In The Digital Classroom, Sarah Cummings

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Blended learning is an instructional model in which instruction is delivered using a combination of traditional teaching methods and online learning materials such as digital textbooks, virtual textbooks, and teacher-made videos. The problem was that elementary teachers in local schools were not implementing blended learning as intended by the school’s improvement plan. The purpose of this study was to examine the perspectives of elementary teachers in Grades 3-5 who have experience using blended learning. The framework for the study is the complex adaptive blended learning system (CABLS) because it helps examine the blended learning elements and the changes that result …

Gestational Weight Gain, Level Of Education, And Infant Mortality Among African American Women, George Lee Amanambu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

African American (AA) women in Mississippi have a higher burden of infant mortality, especially those with low income and educational levels, as compared to other regions of the country. However, it is unknown if abnormal gestation weight gain (GWG) is contributing to this increased burden. This quantitative cross-sectional study examined the association between GWG (25-35lbs), level of education, income, and infant mortality among AA women with normal prepregnancy body weight who were between 30 to 47 years old in the state of Mississippi from 2016 to 2018. Biopsychosocial and ecosocial models were used as the theoretical foundation to design …

Staff Education Program: Increasing Nursing Knowledge Of Exclusive Breastfeeding, Leigh Anne Panek

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the initial postpartum period, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) improves women's and children's health status and outcomes. Gaps in nursing practice that decrease the rate of EBF during hospitalization at this site were identified by the lactation consultant using a standard chart audit during the last two years. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice education project was to provide a comprehensive education program that included the purpose, philosophy, nursing practice, and evaluation tools for increasing the EBF rates to meet the Joint Commission’s standard of improvement for perinatal care core measures. A formal educational program that included didactic and …

The Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Young Adults Who Have Transitioned Out Of State Or Other Care, Linda Rose Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractOver 20,000 young adults are released from state care annually and 100,000 young adults are released from justice centers. Past studies have revealed that young adults 18-24 years of age transitioning out of care are not prepared for independent living and may face many adversities. The problem is that young adults have difficulties finding permanent housing once emancipated from state care, their biological homes, or juvenile justice centers. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of young adults 18-24 years of age and how their experiences and life skills helped on their journey to acquire …

Teaching Environment, Instructional Coaching, And Perceived Organizational Support On Educators’ Quality Of Work-Life, Patrick Terrell Hall

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the field of education, work-life challenges are becoming a source of concern, especially during the recent global pandemic. This study sought to identify relationships between teaching environment, instructional coaching, perceived organizational support, and work-life quality. The variables in the study were measured using the following validated instruments: classroom environment scale; coaching evaluation scale; perceived organizational support scale; and the work-related quality of life scale. This research was informed by the ecological system theory, which served as the theoretical basis for the investigation. Elements of the ecological systems theory express a complex system of relationships that affects multiple levels of …

Transition Of Women Veterans From Active Duty To Adult Learner On Campus, Sheila Outlaw

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractA large percentage of women veteran students at a local 4-year university are transitioning from active duty to the role of adult learner on a college campus, and some have overcome barriers, such as inadequate childcare, lack of transportation, and financial aid issues and completed their educational goals. Unfortunately, some women veterans are not successful. The purpose of this study was to identify methods that self-identified women veteran students at the local study site use to successfully meet their educational goals. Adult transition and transformative learning theory are the conceptual frameworks for this study. A qualitative study collecting semistructured interview …

Professional Dispositions And Perceptions Of Principals About Inclusion In Senior Secondary Schools, Desmond Prince, George Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractProviding inclusive education for children with special educational needs and disabilities entails educating these students in general education classrooms. There are no consistent practices or regulations for administering programs for such students in general education classrooms in Sierra Leone. This problem is supported by the lack of literature about administrative inclusive education practices. This basic qualitative study was conducted to explore the professional dispositions, perceptions, and rules or regulations that school principals hold for administering programs for students with special educational needs and disabilities in general education classrooms. The conceptual framework of the study was based on moral leadership and …

Using Integrated Staff Education To Increase Medication Adherence In A Mentally Ill Population, Tiffany Dawn Burke-Lott

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Failure to adhere to medication regimens is a serious problem that affects both the patient and the health care system. Psychiatric patients have the lowest rates of adherence, as low as 24%. The evidence shows that nonadherence to medication is a global challenge in the field of mental illness and is linked with a poor prognosis. Patients who are nonadherent to medications experience exacerbations of their mental illness, which can lead to rehospitalization, poor psychosocial outcomes, relapse of symptoms, reduced effectiveness of subsequent treatment, wastage of limited health care resources, increased substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased risk …

The Outcome Of Stroke Education And Management On Cerebrovascular Accident Patients In Bermuda, Antoinette Simone Dyer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIncidence of cardiovascular accident (CVA), also referred to as a stroke, has increased in Bermuda. Understanding key contributing factors is necessary to reduce incidences that are associated with this disease process. This dissertation examined the outcome of stroke education and management on CVA patients in Bermuda. The health belief model, incorporating a reflection of the public health framework, guided the analysis of a quantitative dataset obtained through Bermuda Hospitals Board’s Neurology Department. A cross-sectional study design was used to sample 253 stroke patients over a 2-year period (2019 -2021). The Wilcox test was employed to compare two groups – stroke …

Empowerment By Design: Classroom Innovation And Inquiry Through Design Thinking And Action Research, Cory Rayala

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Increasingly standardized and assessment-driven educational systems are failing to meet the needs of many students, replacing their love of learning with a fear of failure. Importantly, the fear of failure is a common mindset of not only students but also teachers, administrators, and policymakers. This qualitative, action research study is situated in a design thinking/growth mindset conceptual theory that posits that the design thinking process can serve as a meaningful growth mindset opportunity for teachers and students. The prototyping mindset inherent in design thinking may mitigate the fear of failure by focusing on rapid iteration rather than striving for perfection. …

Palliative Care Experiences And Educational Needs Of Healthcare Interprofessionals In Jamaica: A Mixed Methods Study, Rebecca L. Edwards

All ETDs from UAB

Universal access to palliative care (PC) is a human right that much of the world has not accomplished and educating a PC workforce is critical to PC advancement. Higher PC disparities exist in low-and-middle income countries, such as Jamaica. The World Health Organization Public Health Model and the International PC Initiative’s PC roadmap emphasize the importance of PC education. The purpose of this mixed methods dissertation study was to investigate the PC experiences and educational needs of healthcare interprofessionals who provide care for patients with late-stage serious illnesses in Jamaica. Three specific aims incorporated quantitative investigation of physicians’, nurses’, and …

Not Just Women’S Work: Recruiting Men To Occupational Therapy, Alexandra I. Zelin, Erin Melhorn, Kristen J. Black, Nicole Harty

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Compared to women, men are less likely to become occupational therapists (OT). To have a more diverse workforce, and to relate to various patient groups, reasons men do not enter the field of OT must be better understood. Our study compares men and women in their familiarity with OT and desire to work in the field. Data were gathered using an online, self-report survey administered to students at a public university in the southeast. The sample included 334 undergraduate students who were in majors that often serve as feeder programs to OT graduate programs. The average age was 19.8 years …

Addressing Sexuality: The Comfort And Preparedness Of Occupational Therapy Students, Claire Lynch, Annette V. Joosten

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Undergraduate sexual health education has the potential to increase confidence and the likelihood that healthcare professionals address sexual health in practice. This study explored Australian final year occupational therapy students’ perceptions about their education, and their preparedness and comfort to address sexuality in their final practice placements and into their future careers. An online questionnaire with three sections for (a) demographics; (b) the students' attitudes towards sexual health (SA-SH) questionnaire, which is a 22-item Likert scale about student attitudes toward sexual health issues in their future profession; and (c) nine open questions regarding students’ comfort and preparedness to address sexuality …

Occupational Therapy Students’ Perceived Preparedness To Work With Transgender Clients, Meredith Rosol, Karissa Rogers, Raigan Borsh, Rachel Pavlinec, Marion Russell, Asa N. Russell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

In order to be a successful practitioner, an occupational therapist must have proper knowledge for treating diverse populations, including clients who are transgender. However, many occupational therapy (OT) programs do not teach content that is specific to the transgender population. This study utilized a complementary mixed-methods design to determine how prepared occupational therapy students perceived themselves to be for working with transgender clients. Entry-level masters and doctoral level occupational therapy students from accredited OT programs across the United States that had completed at least their first Level II fieldwork were recruited to participate. Eighty-five occupational therapy students completed the quantitative …

First Year Occupational Therapy Students’ Engagement In Learning Activities: A Qualitative Study, Mona Asbjørnslett, Helen Bull, Gry Mørk, Tore Bonsaksen

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

When students enter a bachelor program in occupational therapy, they engage in a variety of learning activities. To explore students’ perceptions of learning activities, this qualitative study investigated the experiences of six first year students participating in an occupational therapy study program at a Norwegian university. The students took part in two focus group interviews. The interview analysis focused on meaning and ended up with three main themes: 1) Getting to know each other through collaborative learning activities, 2) Engaging in classroom learning activities, and 3) Approaching the syllabus and doing assignments. The study concludes that early engagement in social …

A Process Framework For The Education-Focused Capstone: Supporting Expansion And Sustainable Outcomes, Sierra Clair, Sarah Corcoran, Emily Bubel, Debbie Amini

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This article aims to share a process framework created to guide entry-level occupational therapy doctoral programs in operationalizing and expanding the scope of the education-focused capstone described by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE^®).The impetus for this work was the completion of a professional development, education-focused capstone that proved to be novel, sustainable, and transformative for the capstone team, including the student, faculty mentor, site mentor, and doctoral capstone coordinator. This capstone ultimately created a professional development course covering the social determinants of health for occupational therapy practitioners, now offered through the American Occupational Therapy Association. …