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Moving Inclusive Design From Theory To Practice: A Reflective Teaching Approach Using Empathy-Based Accessibility Activities, Adriana Del Monaco-Shepherd

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This reflective teaching practice explores the use of empathy-based learning activities to support UX Design students in developing a deeper understanding of accessibility and inclusive design.

While accessibility principles and standards were introduced within the curriculum, I observed that students often understood accessibility as a set of requirements rather than a human-centred design responsibility. Their design outcomes demonstrated strong visual creativity but sometimes overlooked important accessibility considerations such as colour contrast, content hierarchy, navigation clarity, and inclusive communication.

To address this gap, I designed two short experiential activities that encouraged students to experience accessibility barriers firsthand. The first activity used …

Teacher Retention: Do Job Satisfaction, Support From Administrators, Professional Development Opportunities, Student Behavior, And School Culture Directly Affect Whether A Teacher Decides To Stay At A School Or Leave?, Robert Dawson Parrott

Education Theses and Dissertations

Teacher retention has reached crisis levels nationwide, with nearly 50% of beginning teachers leaving within five years. Teacher attrition increased to 27.3% in 2022–2023 in a large suburban school district in North Texas. This translated to over $1.1 million dollars in teacher salary expenditures alone. This Dissertation in Practice utilized mixed-methods research grounded in Improvement Science and Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to explore five campus-level contributors to teacher retention that fell under the control of building-level administrators: job satisfaction, administrative support, professional development, campus culture, and student behavior supports. In Phase 1 a teacher intent survey (n = 63) and focus group …

Fast Radio Bursts From The Nonlinear Evolution Of Low Frequency Plasma Waves In The Magnetosphere Of Magnetars, Dominic Bernardi

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are millisecond-duration radio bursts with applications as cosmic probes. However, their physical origins remain largely unknown. Magnetars are natural candidates for producing FRBs due to their compact size, extremely strong magnetic fields, and intrinsically dynamic nature. In this thesis, I develop a model for FRB production grounded in both a concrete triggering mechanism and a viable emission process. This process begins by launching low-frequency plasma waves into the magnetosphere. I show that energetic fast magnetosonic waves can naturally be produced in the magnetosphere, independent of how these waves are launched. Regardless of whether these waves are …

Across Borders, Across Cultures: A Quest For Health And Well-Being Portfolio, Carrington Connor

UN SDG Open Pedagogy Faculty Fellowship: Renewable Assignments

No abstract provided.

Examining The Influence Of Job Demands And Resources On The Psychological Well-Being Of Arkansas Teachers, Amy C. Erstine

Student Theses and Dissertations

Teachers across the United States are experiencing declining psychological well-being due to increasing job demands and insufficient workplace resources. In Arkansas, this imbalance contributes to burnout, attrition, and persistent teacher shortages, affecting not only educators but also students, schools, and communities. Job resources are positively associated with well-being, whereas job demands are negatively associated with well-being. Understanding the job resources and demands influencing teacher well-being is critical to sustaining a stable and effective teaching workforce. The purpose of this non-experimental and predictive study was to examine the influence of job demands and resources on the psychological well-being of currently licensed …

The Influence Of Leadership Styles On Teacher Motivation And School Climate In Urban Schools From Three South-Central Region States, Jennifer L. Thomas

Student Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored how leadership styles influenced teacher motivation and school climate across three Southern South-Central region states. Through an analysis of 15 interviews, the research explored teachers' lived experiences and interactions with administrators that shaped their motivation, work efficacy, sense of value, and emotional well-being. Three states served as the data pool for the study: Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. Seven themes emerged related to motivation and school climate: Teacher Voice, Support, Empowerment, Relational Confidence, Feeling Valued, Emotional Safety, and Building Community. These themes illuminated how leadership behaviors can either strengthen or hinder teachers’ professional commitment, instructional effectiveness, and …

Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of The Influence Of Social Emotional Competencies On Virtual Students' Academic Success, Melanie Cheyanne Spence

Student Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study is that the effects of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies on academic achievement for virtual learners in a Grades 5-8 classroom are not well known. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of how the practice of SEL competencies by students influence their academic success in a virtual Grades 5-8 classroom. This qualitative narrative inquiry was based around Social Emotional Learning (SEL), a conceptual framework identified by CASEL as including five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The target audience was educational stakeholders who are …

Social Media And Health Information Sharing In Nigeria: Trends In Weight Loss And Cosmetic Procedures, Victoria Ochanya Agbo

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the role of social media in facilitating (mis)information on weight loss and cosmetic surgeries in Nigeria. Utilizing the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the study examines information shared by influencers, audience engagements with such messages, and the factors influencing audience receptivity of the messages. Using a qualitative design, a thematic analysis was conducted on influencer posts and audience responses to such posts across major social media platforms. The findings show that influencers frequently framed cosmetic surgery and weight loss as aspirational lifestyle choices and downplayed the medical risks using means such as testimonials, visual transformations, and authenticity cues. …

"Using A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut" A Proposal To Re-Frame The Media Industry's Perspective On Generative Ai, Reace Barnett

Student Theses and Dissertations

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) continues to be a divisive topic in the media industry and there are concerns about technical challenges that may affect GenAI’s trustworthiness and reliability. As such, fears of degraded public trust in media products and services have arisen, and while we have a tendency to trust machines, it is clear that public attitudes toward automated decision-making are contentious. Previous research on machine cues found that they are associated with increased perceived objectivity and willingness to disclose information. Conversational GenAI may reduce political polarization, yet many people remain worried about risks such as bias, hallucinations, improper attribution, …

Quality Improvement Project: Impact Of Formalized Debriefing On Correctional Health Emergency Response, Angel Woody

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Structured debriefing following medical emergencies has been identified as an evidence-based strategy to improve communication, reflective learning, and staff confidence within high-acuity healthcare settings. Inconsistent debriefing practices within correctional healthcare environments contributed to a gap in emergency response support and staff preparedness. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate whether implementation of a formalized debriefing protocol following medical emergencies impacted staff confidence during emergency response situations within a correctional healthcare setting. The project was guided by Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and Lewin’s Change Theory. A quantitative one-group pretest-posttest quality improvement design was implemented in a county correctional healthcare …

The Transitional Liver Clinic: Study Protocol For A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial, Lindsay Yoder, Elliot B. Tapper, Richard S. Kalman, Mary Rinella, Nicole Bendin, Manisha Verma, Francis Pike, Naga Chalasani, Neha Nalumasu, Eric S. Orman

Einstein Health Papers

BACKGROUND: Patients with complications of advanced liver disease experience high rates of hospital readmission after discharge. Transitional care models have improved outcomes in other chronic conditions, but their efficacy in liver disease care remains uncertain. This randomized trial evaluates the effectiveness of a tailored transitional care model-the Transitional Liver Clinic (TLC)-in reducing readmissions, improving quality of life, and enhancing patient satisfaction for patients with advanced liver disease.

METHODS: This is a 45-month, stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial enrolling up to 1000 patients with advanced liver disease across 4 academic medical centers. Each site transitions from usual care to the TLC intervention …

Decent Work In The Platform Economy Convention, 2026: A Preliminary Analysis, Valerio De Stefano

ILO Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention

This paper provides a preliminary analysis of the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026 (No. 193), the first international labour standard devoted specifically to platform work. It examines the Convention’s scope, substantive protections, and principal interpretive questions, arguing that its significance lies in the cumulative architecture through which platform work is brought within the reach of international labour standards.

Particular attention is given to the Convention’s broad personal scope. Self-employed platform workers are generally included throughout the instrument, while specific provisions permit protections to be adapted to different employment statuses without excluding workers outside an employment relationship. …

The Impact Of Underrepresentation Of Male African American Teachers On African American Students’ (K-12) Classroom Learning, Carenzo George

Student Theses and Dissertations

The persistent underrepresentation of African American male educators in K–12 schools remains a significant concern in the field of education, particularly given the growing diversity of the student population. Despite increasing attention to teacher diversity, African American males continue to represent a small percentage of the teaching workforce. This disparity raises important questions about how representation influences the educational experiences of African American students. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions of African American male teachers and administrators regarding the impact of the underrepresentation of African American male educators on African American students’ classroom experiences. …

Perceptions Of Trauma-Informed Trained Campus Leadership, Shelly Hardin

Student Theses and Dissertations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as potentially traumatic experiences that occur in a person’s life between birth and age 17. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2024), more than two thirds of children experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16, and this is likely an underestimate, as this percentage represents only those cases reported. The physical, emotional, and neurological impact of traumatic experiences can be detrimental to a child’s education, often contributing to learning deficits and behavioral issues. School leaders have the responsibility of creating …

Practices That Impact The Reading Performance Of Elementary Special Education Inclusion Students, Lynette Hampton

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study investigated teaching practices that teachers perceived impacted the reading performance of second-grade special education inclusion students who spend 80% or more of their reading instructional time in the general education classroom. Despite the significant progress made under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), special education students continue to perform lower academically than their non-disabled peers, particularly in reading. This study aims to identify instructional and non-instructional practices that teachers perceive impact the reading performance of special education inclusion students. The study utilized semi-structured interviews with second-grade teachers in Title 1 K-8 schools in the northwest …

Examining The Influence Of Principals’ Transformational Leadership In Promoting Conducive School Culture And Secondary Esl Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Chanda Yvonne Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

Secondary ESL teachers face diverse classrooms and complex instructional demands. As the number of multilingual learners continues to increase in secondary schools, ESL teachers must support students’ language development while also helping them access rigorous academic content across subject areas. This phenomenological study explored how principals’ transformational leadership and school culture influence secondary ESL teachers’ self-efficacy. Drawing on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory (1997) and Bass’s Transformational Leadership Theory (1985), the study examined how leadership behaviors and school environments shape teachers’ confidence and motivation. Semi-structured interviews with 10 ESL teachers in a southeastern metropolitan district elicited focused accounts of how specific leadership …

The Implementation Of Restorative Practices Through The Don’T Suspend Me! Professional Development, Bethanie Hale

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to examine how participation in the Don’t Suspend Me! (2022) professional development influenced teachers’ beliefs about discipline and their implementation of restorative practices within one public school district. Guided by Guskey’s (2002) Model of Teacher Change, this study sought to answer the research question: How does participation in the Don’t Suspend Me! (2022) professional development influence teachers’ implementation of restorative disciplinary practices and their beliefs about discipline within one public school district? Data were collected through a teacher questionnaire, individual interviews, and researcher reflexive journaling, with trustworthiness supported through triangulation, member …

Influences Of Transformational Leadership Mixed With Contemporary Practices Among High School Coaches: A Qualitative Exploratory Study, Kylene M. Brewton

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined factors influencing transformational leadership (TL) among high school coaches. Although previous research shows that TL improves athlete performance, emotional development, and team cohesion, little attention has been paid to how TL skills develop in secondary school sports, specifically to be used by coaching staff. Using Bass and Avolio’s four “I’s” framework—idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration—the study explored the impact of gender, coaching experience, sport coached, and mentorship on TL practices. Ten high school coaches from the mid-southern United States participated in three rounds of interviews using the Differentiated Transformational Leadership Inventory (DTLI). …

Integration Of Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies In High School Science Classes, Pamela Chanell Williams

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated the integration of culturally responsive teaching strategies in high school science classes. The problem addressed in this study is that teachers are underprepared to employ culturally responsive teaching strategies to facilitate academic success in science courses for culturally and linguistically diverse students. By investigating the integration of culturally responsive teaching strategies during instruction, improvements can be made to the effectiveness of professional development centered on culturally responsive teaching strategies found in the Ready for Rigor framework. The conceptual framework that served as the foundation for this study was Hammond’s (2015) Ready for Rigor framework. Questionnaires, …

Re-Entering Public Schools Kindergarten Through 12th Grade After The Pandemic: Perceptions Of General Educators On Teaching Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders In Inclusionary Classrooms, Angela Larrison

Student Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of students and teachers and caused a need for social-emotional learning to be addressed upon re-entry to Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools. Students with social and emotional behavioral disorders have experienced dismal outcomes as they are one to two years behind their peers academically and more likely to receive out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, or placement in alternative learning programs. Students with disabilities showed a loss of progress both academically and behaviorally upon re-entry of school following the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem to be addressed in this study was what effects re-entering public schools …

Understanding Principal Perspectives On What Professional Learning Supports Sustained School Improvements: A Qualitative Case Study, Kristen Hope Fondren

Student Theses and Dissertations

Principals leading schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement face demands related to rapid improvement, instructional reform, and sustaining gains over time. Although districts provide professional learning, limited understanding exists regarding which supports principals perceive as most meaningful in turnaround contexts. This qualitative multiple case study explored how principals in the Florida Panhandle perceived professional learning supports that strengthened leadership capacity, supported exiting improvement status, and sustained school improvement. Guided by a constructivist framework, the study examined how principals constructed meaning from their professional learning experiences. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six principals who successfully led schools out …

An Analysis Of How Educators’ Attitudes Toward Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities Impact Assessment Scores Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Felicia Baty Goings

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed how educators’ attitudes toward individuals with intellectual disabilities impact summative assessment scores of students with learning disabilities. The research problem addressed in this study was the increase in the number of special education students receiving inclusive instruction who scored at Levels 3 or 4 on the Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System (ATLAS) mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) summative assessment. The findings are relevant to educators and education stakeholders wanting to improve inclusion practices. The purpose of this correlational quantitative study was to determine whether there was a significant difference in students’ summative assessment scores and …

Heritage As Performative Sovereignty: Situated Agency And Environmental (In)Equity In The Arkansas Delta, Faisal Mohammed

Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the materiality of heritage as a proactive and strategic resource for ensuring survival and reshaping justice in rural places. Set in Phillips County, in the Arkansas Delta, a region where environmental neglect and economic marginalization are visibly apparent in the landscape, this research interrogates how a community responds to environmental crises in a contested landscape using locally driven, art-based initiatives. By centering the Water Story Project in Phillips County, funded by One Nation One Project, a national art-based initiative, I explore a ‘thin institutional ecology’ where the scarcity of regulatory oversight and intermediary civic support has …

The Ecotoxicological Implications Of Switching From Fluorescent To Light Emitting Diode Lighting For Zooplankton Culturing And Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing, Orithea Z. Regn

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the global transition toward light emitting diode (LED) lighting, an understudied area is the impact on the culturing and testing of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing organisms, more specifically, the zooplankton species. Without comparison to the current lighting used for culturing and testing, it is unknown if there will be an impact on performance, which could affect effluent, regulatory, and product safety decisions. This dissertation investigated if culturing and reference toxicity testing using sodium chloride for Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia magna, and D. pulex under LED lighting was comparable to fluorescent. Comparisons were made between two laboratories and by season, …

College Success Comparison Between First-Generation College Students And Non-First-Generation College Students In The South Texas Plains, Obed Guerrero

Student Theses and Dissertations

This study examined differences in academic success between first-generation college students and non-first-generation college students enrolled in community colleges in the South Texas region. National research has consistently reported that first-generation college students tend to experience lower academic outcomes; however, limited empirical evidence exists regarding whether these disparities persist within South Texas, a region characterized by a high Hispanic student population and a substantial proportion of first-generation students. This gap limits the ability of institutions to make context-specific decisions that support student success. The purpose of this study was to compare grade point average, fall-to-fall retention, and graduation outcomes between …

If It Doesn't Hurt You Aren't Working Hard Enough: An Examination Of Coach Experience In High School Debate, Rosie Valdez Block

Student Theses and Dissertations

High school debate coaching constitutes a uniquely demanding educational role, defined by emotional labor, extended work hours, institutional precarity, and systemic inequities. Despite their significant contributions to students’ intellectual and personal growth, the professional sustainability of debate coaches remains underexamined. This dissertation investigates the conditions contributing to burnout among high school debate coaches through the theoretical lenses of Maslach’s Burnout Theory, as contemporized by Edú-Valsania et al. (2022), and teacher self-efficacy theory, to understand how emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished professional confidence emerge in this context. The study is further guided by constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014), enabling a bottom-up, …

Educator Perceptions Of The Impact Of The Avid Program On Minority Students’ School Achievement, Genia Smith

Student Theses and Dissertations

While Hispanic and African American college enrollment rates have increased over the past 20 years, minority students continue to face structural and educational barriers that make it more challenging for them to prepare for and gain entry to college. The Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is a college preparatory initiative designed to provide additional academic and social support for historically disadvantaged students. Guided by a socio-cultural theoretical framework, this mixed-methods survey-based study explored the perceptions of 10 administrators and 10 teachers in a Southeast region school district regarding the impacts of AVID on minority students’ achievement. The findings revealed …

Impact Of Expanded Core Curriculum On College And Job Placement For The Blind And Visually Impaired, Susan Drake

Student Theses and Dissertations

Students who are blind or visually impaired face persistent barriers in postsecondary education and employment, despite access to academic instruction and legally mandated supports. Although academic accommodations are often provided, less is known about how instruction in nonacademic skill areas influences long-term outcomes. . This study addressed a critical gap by examining the perceived impact of Expanded Core Curriculum instruction on college readiness, employment attainment, and adult independence for blind or visually impaired high school graduates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how former students described their access to, understanding of, and benefit from Expanded Core Curriculum …

Lived Experiences Of Competency-Based Grading: Implementation In The Secondary Public School Setting, Andrew Robbins Gillespie

Student Theses and Dissertations

The implementation of non-traditional grading systems is a current theme in American public school education. Competency-Based Grading (CBG) is a system that many school districts are considering. CBG is based on essential learning objectives and streamlines the grading of those objectives. CBG also removes high stakes assessment by allowing reassessment. However, studies have shown implementation efforts are often met with obstacles for either a lack of preparation or understanding. This dissertation seeks to understand the lived experiences of educational staff with the CBG implementation process through a phenomenological study. Data was gathered through interviews, observations, and document review. The themes …

Cap1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) Mediates The Camp Regulation Of Adhesion And Proliferation Of Schwann Cells In The Peripheral Nervous System, Jarna Karmoker

Student Theses and Dissertations

The peripheral nervous system relays signals between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, and peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies can cause permanent neurological deficits. Schwann cells (SCs) are glial cells that myelinate neurons, which is essential for neuronal function and nerve repair. CAP1 (Cyclase-Associated Protein 1) is best characterized as an actin-regulating protein, while it also regulates other cellular processes, including matrix adhesion, migration, and proliferation. We discovered that cAMP-induced CAP1 dephosphorylation regulates relevant cell functions. While cAMP is also important for SC function and myelination, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We silenced CAP1 in …