Digital Commons Network^™

The Lived Experiences Of Educators Leveraging Educational Technology And Connectivism For Fostering Academic Achievement In Higher Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Cynthia T. Plueger

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of educators at public universities in the southern region of the United States who leverage educational technology to enhance student engagement and improve academic achievement through the application of connectivism principles in learning environments. This study was guided by the connectivism theory, which highlights the significance of interconnected networks, contemporary knowledge, and the interrelatedness of information in digital higher education learning environments. The central research question was: How do educators at public universities in the southern region of the United States describe their lived experiences with leveraging …

Treating Higher Education As An Investment, Roger E. Meiners, Andrew P. Morriss

San Diego Law Review

College is one of the costliest investments many people make; yet, prospective students are often not provided accurate information about the cost of college, nor are they provided information about the likely outcomes upon completion of a degree. Rather than address the problem by focusing on ballooning college debt, we propose that the rules that apply to sellers of other services and investments should apply to colleges. Colleges behave much like competitive firms. They engage in costly efforts to lure students. They sometimes produce false or misleading information that gives students the impression of higher payoffs from a degree than …

Grounded In Liquidity: Writing And Identity In Third Space, Alicja Syska, Carina Buckley, L Heggie

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper argues that writing for publication has the potential to support the creation, negotiation, and stabilising of the professional identities of third space (Whitchurch, 2013) practitioners in higher education. Caught in the impermanence and unpredictability of ‘liquid life’ (Bauman, 2005), third space opens up unique opportunities in writing that afford its practitioners a means of building and sustaining identity. Third space expands academic writing beyond its normative constraints, creating a tension between the apparent permanence and solidity of writing and the liquidity that allows for the negotiation of meaning andidentity. As such, writing, particularly for dissemination, provides third space …

Supporting High School Students In Their Transition To College Through A Comprehensive College Prep Bootcamp, Brooke E. Baneck

Masters Projects

When transitioning from high school to college, many students struggle with increased academic rigor, time management, and lack of financial literacy, while also facing social and emotional difficulties such as homesickness and stress. Addressing these challenges holistically, this project outlines the Next Step: College Prep Academy, a pre-college bootcamp designed to enhance students' academic preparedness, social integration skills, emotional and psychological health, financial literacy, and cultural competency, particularly for first-generation and minoritized students. Grounded in theoretical perspectives, the bootcamp aims to equip students with essential skills and support systems to thrive in their first year of college and beyond.

Navigating The Academic Labyrinth: Describing The Landscape Of Women Faculty In Hospitality Higher Education, Kelly A. Way, Clarissa Mason, Betsy Garrison

Human Development and Family Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to describe faculty women’s perspectives of the workplace environment in hospitality higher education. Design/methodology/approach

Female faculty members in hospitality (n = ∼50) completed an online survey about their beliefs about women’s experiences, advancement characteristics the glass ceiling and gender equity. Findings

Respondents concurred that being self-directed, assertive and a risk-taker were essential; leadership is the most important characteristic for advancement and the glass ceiling is prevalent and prominent. It may be assumed that the milieu of academia would be free or freer of the glass ceiling, but research, including this study, suggests otherwise. …

A Qualitative Description Of Graduate Students’ Perceived Decline In Physical Activity From Undergraduate School, Kristin M. Jett, Bryce T. Daniels, Max Brigance, Jessica L. Passarelli, Erin Howie

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1038-1055, 2024. Many university students, especially graduate students, are experiencing poor physical and psychological health. Thus, universities are initiating programs like Exercise is Medicine-On Campus (EIM-OC) to promote positive physical activity behavior to improve physical and mental health for primarily undergraduate university students. However, the influences on physical activity when transitioning from an undergraduate to a graduate student are unknown. To explore perceptions of if and how the physical activity levels of graduate students changed from their time as undergraduate students while considering environmental and lifestyle factors. METHODS: Using a qualitative, phenomenological research design, …

Introduction: 16(3)2024: Special Issue Military Conflict And Internationalization Of Higher Education: Lessons From The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, Aliya Kuzhabekova

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Bearing The Woken Bear: Kazakhstani Educators Making Sense Of The Russian Invasion In Ukraine And Its Consequences For Internationalization Of Higher Education In Kazakhstan

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Special Issue

Full Issue 16(3)

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Education In Exile As A Hope-Making Practice: The Case Of Russian Higher Education Projects

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Special Issue

Wooyake Winyan: The Experience Of Three Native Women In Higher Education Leadership At 4-Year Institutions In The Midwest, Raven Gray

Theses and Dissertations

Native women in higher education have faced many challenges and disparities, specifically within 4-year institutions. This research used a qualitative method known as storytelling to identify ways of progression for Native women in higher education leadership while being supported by the theoretical framework of aspirational capital. Additionally, this knowledge is explained through cultural ways of storytelling, with hope of gaining perspective of Native female leadership and how this impacts Native communities within higher education. Through this research, it portrayed the experience of Native women in Higher education leadership which included their successes and challenges. Each participant shared their background of …

Understanding The Internationalization Of Higher Education In The Context Of The War In Ukraine: Critical Conversations From Kazakhstan

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

Special Issue

Student Perceptions And Academic Performance When Taught With Multiple Active Learning Methods In A High Enrollment Undergraduate Human Physiology Course, Kate Ireton Walker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

When instructing very large groups of students in science, it can be difficult to engage all students in the content and measure their understanding. A major unaddressed challenge in science instruction is how specifically to design and implement strategies that engender active learning particularly in high-enrollment undergraduate courses. Active learning, which represents a diverse set of strategies, may include student engagement as part of instruction through discussions, active movement, and application (Bernstein, 2018; Cavanagh, et al. 2016; Michael, 2006 & Wilke, 2003). This study was designed to provide data addressing the gap in the literature regarding how the continual implementation …

Antiracism In Higher Education: An Integrated Psychological Perspective, Rhea E. Nesbitt

Dissertations, 2020-current

Antiracism is a complicated and important term with prominent, influential voices claiming that systemic equity and the reconfiguration of white identity are the central solutions to eradicating American racism. Within the profound sociocultural effects of the existing antiracist rhetoric, there is vagueness, conflict, and incoherence. Language serves as a fundamental aspect of human experience, facilitating individual meaning-making and comprehension. Effective communication hinges on the ability to articulate subjective experiences and justifications clearly, a challenge evident in discussions surrounding antiracism. Despite advocating for antiracism as crucial and unending work, scholars recognize significant hurdles, including unclear responsibilities for implementation and entrenched structures …

Introduction To 16(3) 2024 And Special Issue: The Effect Of The Russia-Ukraine Conflict On International Mobility And Internationalization In Post-Soviet Eurasia And Beyond, Rosalind Latiner Raby

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Jacks Of All Hats: Role Complexity, Ambiguity, And The Experiences Of Short- Term Study Abroad Faculty

Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Exposing The Pervasive Culture Of Whiteness At Predominantly White Institutions: A Narrative Analysis Of White Deans Of Students' Understanding And Role In Responses To Campus Racial Incidents, Jennifer Helen Reid

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Deeply embedded in U.S. higher education institutions is a culture of whiteness that benefits white students, staff, faculty, and administrators through racist policies, structures, and cultural norms designed to uphold whiteness. This culture not only minimizes the presence of racism, but also is pervasive on college campuses, where administrators often fail to recognize blatant racism and treat ongoing campus racial incidents as isolated events. Despite the frequency of racial incidents, campus responses are typically ineffective, failing to address the underlying institutional practices that reinforce white supremacy and further harm those affected. This study explored the experiences of white deans of …

Hired For Diversity And Onboarded For Assimilation: A Case Study Of Racial Battle Fatigue Among Student Affairs Practitioners Of Color, Kristina Hall-Michel

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This study addressed the need to understand the negative experiences of student affairs practitioners of color (SAPOCs) related to racial battle fatigue (RBF) and the accompanying need to explore how SAPOCs working at predominately white institutions (PWIs) experience RBF. The author conducted a multiple-case study with 10 SAPOCs, who served as individual cases, and used semi-structured interviews and document analyses of institutional websites. The conceptual framework for this study was framed by racialized organizations (Ray, 2019), campus racial climate (Hurtado et al., 1998), and RBF (Smith et al., 2007). Findings indicated that while the 10 participants worked at different PWIs …

U.S. Undergraduate Test-Optional Policies For International Applicants During The Covid Pandemic: An Exploration Of Admissions Webpages, Sugene Cho-Baker, Guangming Ling, José Sotelo, Olasumbo Oluwalana

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

Although the adoption of test-optional policies (TOPs) has risen, there is little research documenting the types of TOPs (e.g., test-blind, test-optional) utilized across higher educational institutions, particularly for international applicants, who have been traditionally required to submit additional application components (e.g., proof of English language proficiency [ELP]). Using the content of undergraduate admissions webpages from 518 U.S. 4-year universities, the current study examined how standardized test policies are implemented in admissions for international applicants. We found that only 2.5% of the institutions explicitly required ACT/SAT scores, whereas 43.1% stated ACT/SAT scores as optional requirements for admissions. Some institutions provided unclear …

Integrating Research-Based Indicators Of Emergent Biliteracy Teaching Practices For Emerging Bilingual Learners, Julia Guadalupe Cuevas Guerra

Human Development and School Services Faculty Publications

This research explored how bilingual teachers of young Dual Language Leaners ages 0-3 integrated Reyes and Azuara’s (2008) Ecological Model of Emergent Biliteracy in their classrooms to foster bilingualism, biliteracy, and academic success. Dual Language Learners are the fastest-growing population of young children in the country that speak a language other than English. As so, the early childhood workforce must integrate the Ecological Model of Emergent Biliteracy for emergent biliteracy development and equitable emergent biliteracy teaching practices to support the natural biliteracy development of young Spanish-English Dual Language Learners. Qualitative data was collected through interviews and observations and were analyzed …

A Place To Rest My Soul: How A Doctoral Student Of Color Group Utilized A Healing-Centered Space To Navigate Higher Education, Jessica I. Ramirez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Students of Color have historically faced explicit and implicit forms of discrimination and oppression in educational settings. Unfortunately, not much has changed over the decades as Students of Color continue to experience white supremacy and other systems of oppression. As Students of Color enter graduate school, there are often fewer Students of Color, making these educational settings isolating and hostile. These experiences often encompass white supremacist policies, practices, and remarks that negatively impact Students of Color. With this in mind and as someone who identifies as a Chicana who was once in a doctoral program, I questioned how doctoral Students …

From Classroom Interaction To Academic Success: Tracing The Mediating Role Of Effective Communication In Faculty-Student Dynamics, Nadia Dahmani, Wael Ali, Mohammed Aboelenein, Mohammad A.K. Alsmairat, Mursal Faizi

All Works

This paper aimed to determine the impact of faculty communication style, student proactiveness, and academic discipline on student academic performance and student-faculty relationship quality in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) higher education context. This study also aimed to contribute to the literature by verifying the mediating impact of communication effectiveness between the selected factors. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the study sample comprised 193 university students, and it was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that academic discipline and the professor’s communication style enhanced communication effectiveness, whereas student proactiveness had a minimal effect. The …

The Perceptions Of Tennessee Public School Case Managers On Individualized Education Program Transition Planning And Their Role In Preparing 12th Grade Students For Postsecondary Education Disability Services, Robert A. Bartles

Ed.D. Dissertations

Few students with disabilities applied for postsecondary education disability services and, as a result, had lower graduation rates from four-year colleges than their non-disabled peers. The purpose of this qualitative, interpretive study was to discover the perceptions of Tennessee public high school case managers regarding IEP transition planning and to discover their role in preparing 12th grade students with disabilities for postsecondary education disability services as minimal literature existed on the topic. I discovered four themes from coding questionnaire responses of 13 study participants. Most case managers (85%) relied on direct student input to create transition goals and perceived IEP …

Finding Harmony In Academic Life: Blending The Teacher-Scholar Model, Shirley P. O'Brien

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy affords many role options. Academic faculty is one example of a role. Faculty are expected to participate in teaching, service, and research/scholarship activities within their roles, as shaped by institutional type. This article highlights the academic journey and considerations for embracing leadership as teacher-scholars in occupational therapy.

An External Perspective On The Uem, Catherine Cronin

Group Reports

This report provides feedback on TU Dublin’s University Education Model (UEM) from an external perspective. The report details engagement with the UEM team over several months during the academic year 2023-24 and provides feedback on the model, including recommendations for dealing with potential obstacles to progress and implementation.

Does Deviating From Agile Principles Have An Impact On Project Success In North Carolina Higher Education Institutions?, Douglas A. Stanley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Agile software development projects are over three times more likely to succeed than waterfall projects, but 58% of agile-led projects are unable to satisfy the timeline, budget, and customer (Standish Group, 2020). This quantitative correlational study examines if a relationship exists between deviating from the 12 agile principles outlined in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development (Beck et al., 2001) and the perceived level of success for agile software development projects within North Carolina higher education institutions. The general problem addressed by this study is the failure of organizations adhering to agile principles resulting in unsuccessful software development projects. Using …

Undergraduate Students' Perceptions Of A Problem-Based Learning Biomechanics Module, Laurence Protheroe, Luciana De Martin Silva, Celeste Wilkins

ISBS Proceedings Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore student perceptions of problem-based learning and provide recommendations for practice. Five students enrolled on a 2^nd year sports biomechanics module at a UK institution participated in semi-structured focus groups at the mid- and endpoints of the module. Thematic analysis, with an inductive focus, identified themes related to successes, challenges and recommendations. Successes included intellectual development, teamwork and inclusivity. Challenges included uncertainty, engagement and retreat in intellectual development. Recommendations were integration of some traditional methods and choice of assessed problems. Educators can be confident that problem-based approaches can develop desired skills for …

E-Gaming: An Active Learning Pedagogy For Engaging Learners In A Private University In Karachi, Pakistan, Laila Akber Cassum, Syeda Sadia Fatima

School of Nursing & Midwifery

There is a radical shift in teaching and learning pedagogies to engage the learners in healthcare profession. It was a tough challenge for Pakistani educators of an esteemed university to motivate and assess the learners for concept absorption and critical reasoning using creative approaches. Teaching and learning styles have changed fundamentally from conventional teacher centred to inquiry-based student-centred approach. Classroom teaching in recognised nursing and medical institutes in Pakistan have transformed to blended and entirely online methodologies with the integration of diverse active learning strategies. The educators grapple to engage the millennials and to encounter this, gaming technological platform was …

Exploring Student Veterans Barriers, Alexandra Brandriff

Dissertations

The student veteran population in higher education is a unique group of individuals with different skills and life experiences not typically found among traditional students. Through a comprehensive analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, this study explores the complex challenges that student veterans face in higher education. It aims to explore the challenges, barriers, and support programs experienced by student veterans throughout their higher education journey, as well as compare the graduation and retention rates of student veterans and traditional students.

The researcher first gathered and analyzed qualitative data from student veterans’ responses to a survey utilized to gain their …

Sustainable Development Goal 4.B In The Pacific – A Pilot Study For Monitoring Tertiary Education Scholarships For Development, Amanda Haddow, Daniel Edwards, Lorissa Hazelman

Global education monitoring

United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. SDG 4 includes 10 targets, of which Target 4.b aims to expand higher education scholarships for developing countries. Target 4.b leverages the benefits of international education to support countries in achieving SDG 4. For host and sending countries, the exchange of students across borders shares the societal benefits produced by tertiary education (knowledge, information, innovation) (Perna et al., 2014). The modality of scholarships broadens access to high-quality tertiary education in areas necessary for locally-led development and provides opportunities …