Digital Commons Network^™

Arts Integration In Special Education, Emily Sanderson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone examines the use of arts integration interventions in special education services. Art is inherently adaptable and can be used to create engaging lessons accessible to all learners. Grounded in inclusive education, constructivist, social-emotional learning, disability identity, and self-determination theories, the literature review examines how arts-integrated activities can support students with disabilities in communication and expression, emotional and behavioral development, and cognitive and academic engagement, as well as impact students’ identity, autonomy, and social development. Building on this research, the author studied the Welsh school system at Aberystwyth University, visiting five local schools and interviewing twelve teachers of students …

Read. Click. Grow: Comparing Digital And Traditional Print-Based Approaches To Support Foundational Reading Development In Elementary Classrooms, Carla Pliego-Java

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Early literacy instruction provides an essential foundation for children’s long-term academic development, while the increasing presence of digital technology has changed how young students encounter and interact with text. This capstone examines how early literacy instruction supported by digital tools compares to traditional print-based instruction in supporting foundational reading development in elementary classrooms. The project was informed by research on early literacy development, evidence-based literacy instruction, digital literacy, traditional print-based instruction, technology integration, and equity and access. The research process also included qualitative observations and conversations with educators during a study abroad experience in Aberystwyth, Wales, which were compared with …

Advanced Mathematics In The Elementary School: Supporting Teachers And Students Through A Resource Compilation, Abigail Friedel

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Addressing the needs of every student within an elementary mathematics classroom is a difficult and time-consuming task that educators are charged with. The range of abilities in a general education classroom can span multiple grade levels, especially in upper elementary. Teachers are often encouraged to focus on students that are below grade level, which can lead to higher ability students being bored and disengaged when they are in the classroom (Livers et al., 2018). To address this issue, this capstone project seeks to answer the question of how can elementary classroom teachers best support their advanced learners in math after …

American History And Immigration: Creating A Comprehensive Immigration Unit For An American History Class, Hawkens Bory-Baar

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone addresses a deficit in social studies curricula which overemphasizes factual recitation of a narrow selection of history. Understanding that ethnic studies is another social studies topic which provides the lacking elements from mainstream history teaching, this project attempts to design an American history unit that is informed by the principles of ethnic studies and culturally relevant pedagogy. The research question being asked is: how can we best design an immigration unit for Minnesota studies or American history that effectively integrates ethnic studies into a mainstream curriculum? To achieve this goal, a unit has been designed that focuses on …

How Do Targeted Scaffolding Strategies And Instructional Modifications Support The Academic Language Development And Content Comprehension Of Multilingual Learners In Elementary Classrooms?, Ashley Schutt

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Multilingual learners need intentional support to develop academic language and access grade-level content. However, many educators need additional knowledge and training to use scaffolding strategies and instructional modifications effectively in their classrooms.

This capstone explores how research-based strategies, including academic language supports, visuals, sentence frames, and differentiated instruction, support multilingual learners. Information was collected through a literature review, classroom observations, educator interviews, and school visits during a study abroad experience in Wales.

Findings showed that effective instruction for multilingual learners requires purposeful planning, collaboration, and a focus on students’ linguistic and cultural identities. The experiences in Wales connected with research …

Framing Schools As A Second Home For Children, Christian Duncan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone explores how a structured professional development program can create greater unity and mutual understanding among educators by framing the school as a “second home” comparable to a parent household. The project developed from observations of division, dissatisfaction, and strained relationships among educators and considers how these dynamics can influence school culture and the stability students experience. Key influences included research on child development, home and school stability, teacher well-being, professional relationships, and effective professional development. Research from Darling-Hammond and Cook-Harvey (2018) emphasized the importance of emotional and physical safety, supportive adult relationships, and belonging for student development, while …

Effective And Appropriate Reading Interventions For Upper Elementary Students, Casey Orr

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With more students falling behind in their reading skill development, and staying behind as they continue into older grades, this project was created to answer the question; what reading interventions are most appropriate and effective for upper elementary students? Recently, reading instruction has shifted to follow the body of research known as the science of reading. Much of the literature surrounding this topic centers around students in kindergarten through second grade, leaving teachers and reading specialists of upper elementary students without the same information or support for their students. This project reviews the existing literature on the history of reading …

The Impact Of Teachers Providing Home-Based Literacy Resources To Families Of Emergent Readers, Hannah Brown

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many primary teachers often hear from parents that they want to help their child learn to read and write at home but do not have tools or resources to do so. Parents of young children are often left wondering how they can help their child be successful in the literacy classroom and create meaningful practice opportunities at home. This capstone project addresses the research question: How can primary elementary teachers support early literacy development by providing families with home-based literacy resources? A literature review revealed that family literacy resources should be focused on emergent literacy skills such as phonological awareness, …

Enhancing Second Language Acquisition Through Hands-On Learning In French Immersion Schools, Vanessa Hendrikson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Learning a second language at school is a valuable experience. However, the journey toward fluency can sometimes be long and challenging for both students and educators. This capstone explores how hands-on learning activities can support second language learning by providing students with meaningful and engaging experiences. It is guided by the research question: How can hands-on learning activities support second language acquisition among students in French immersion schools? Grounded in research on second language acquisition and experiential learning, the project examines how games, manipulatives, and other hands-on activities can help students build their language skills while providing opportunities for authentic …

A Genre-Based Approach To Teaching Employment Interview English For Adult English Learners In The United States, Caitlin Schueler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Employment interviews represent high-stakes communicative events that can present particular challenges for adult English learners (AELs). Despite this, existing interview preparation materials often emphasize rehearsal of common questions, memorization of responses, and adherence to cultural norms instead of an intentional focus on the linguistic resources characteristic of employment interview discourse. This capstone project addresses that gap through the design of an eight-week curriculum for intermediate-level AELs. The curriculum is informed by Systemic Functional Linguistics, the Sydney School approach to genre pedagogy, Interactional Sociolinguistics, the Teaching and Learning Cycle, and Understanding by Design. Together, these frameworks guided the development of a …

Latina Representation In Children’S Literature: A Content Analysis Approach., Vanessa Varela

Dissertations (1934 -)

This quantitative content analysis investigates the representation of Latina girls and women in children’s books across two distinct publishing periods. Drawing on foundational scholarship in gender and racial representation in children’s literature (Casey, 2021; Hamilton et al., 2006; Leslie, 2021; Pérez Huber, 2018; Paynter, 2011; Weitzman et al., 1972), and informed by the emergence of multiracial feminism in the 1990s, the study examines a total of forty books, using the book as the unit of analysis (20 published in 1995 and 20 in 2025). A comprehensive 60-item coding instrument was used to generate descriptive statistics, conduct inferential testing, and support …

Assessing Language Access Barriers In Medical Settings, Ashley Cardona-Carrillo, Joumana De Santiago, Janiris Sanchez

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Managing Risks Under Nuclear Power Plant Projects: A Latent Similarity-Guided Contract Customization, Mariam Elazhary, Islam H. El-Adaway

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Global energy is transforming, with nuclear power emerging as a pivotal player in achieving sustainable and low-carbon energy goals. The nature of nuclear technology introduces unique challenges, such as stringent safety and environmental requirements. Existing studies focus on general risk identification, such as supply chain delays, cost overruns, and public perception issues. However, these studies fail to address integrating these risks into tailored contractual provisions, which are critical for navigating the unique challenges of nuclear projects. The goal of this paper is to examine how standard construction contracts can be tailored to better accommodate the risks inherent in nuclear power …

Metaphysics Of Parallel Heritage In The Formulation Of The Contemporary Cityscape, Ban Mohammed Sultan, Abbas Ali Hamza Al Greiza

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning

In the contemporary globalized world, the metaphysical texts of parallel heritage play a vital role in preserving the identity and privacy of cities with historical cores by conveying both the authenticity of the past and the spirit of the age in architectural production. The research problem addresses a cognitive deficiency in reading the metaphysics of parallel heritage within the urban landscape of Haifa Street, proposing it as a text that mediates between heritage and contemporaneity. The research hypothesizes that these metaphysical texts contain a creative core that functions as a future-oriented cognitive model. Using a descriptive–analytical approach, the study analyzes …

Two Years Of Ocrelizumab Treatment In Black And Hispanic People With Multiple Sclerosis In Chimes: A Single-Arm Clinical Trial, Lilyana Amezcua, Anthony Reder, Evanthia Bernitsas, Nancy Monson, Timothy Vartanian, Gregory Wu, Mansoor Saleh, Annette Okai, Ahmed Obeidat, Dilraj Sokhi

Haematology and Oncology, East Africa

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ocrelizumab in self-identified black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Methods The Characterization of Ocrelizumab in Minorities with Multiple Sclerosis (CHIMES) trial, a prospective, open-label, single-arm, phase 4 study, intentionally recruited underrepresented populations in the US, Puerto Rico, and Kenya. Black and Hispanic people with relapsing multiple sclerosis aged 18–65 years with Expanded Disability Status Scale score 0–5.5 received ocrelizumab for 2 years. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with no evidence of disease activity in 3 components at week 48: protocol-defined relapse, 24-week confirmed disability progression, and disease …

Examining The Relationship Between Trauma-Informed Safety Drill Practices And School-Level Chronic Absenteeism In Maine Secondary Schools, Tina Nightingale

Dissertations

School safety practices can influence students' perceptions of safety, emotional well-being, and engagement in the educational environment; however, limited research has examined whether trauma-informed safety drill practices are associated with measurable educational outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental, correlational study was to examine the relationship between trauma-informed safety drill practices and school-level chronic absenteeism in Maine middle and high schools. Guided by trauma-informed care, adolescent neurodevelopment, and Protection Motivation Theory, the study investigated whether higher levels of trauma-informed implementation of safety drills, as measured by the Trauma-Informed Safety Drill Practices Index (TISDPI), were associated with lower rates of chronic …

Authentic Material Use In English Language Development Classrooms, Kenneth Fields

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

With attention on the topic of globalization at an all time high, more and more focus has been shifted towards student-centric, evidence-based approaches for second language education. In order to address the perceived need of more culturally-centered content, this project attempts to answer the question: What are the benefits of using authentic materials over grammar-based texts and how can authentic materials be implemented into low-proficiency ELD classrooms? Authentic materials, or materials created by native language speakers not for the purposes of L2 education, have been gaining more popularity among educational researchers as second language acquisition theories have begun to favor …

“Retalhos De Mim Costurados Por Nós” (A Patchwork Of Me, Stitched Together By Us), Marjorye Graves

MFA in Dance Theses

This document represents the culmination of my thesis project "Retalhos de Mim Costurados por Nós" (A Patchwork of Me, Stitched Together by Us), a choreographic project integrating scholarly perspectives from Dance and Social Justice, Phenomenology, and Somatics courses. Employing both dance film and solo live performance, the research interrogates the complexities of identity within the overlapping contexts of immigration, domestic violence, and motherhood. Through an embodied praxis, the project addresses the intersection of adversity and resilience, highlighting the transformative potential of community, cultural inheritance, and spirituality in my healing process.

Fundamental Uncertainties Invalidate The Precision Of Obsidian Hydration Dating: A Rapa Nui Case Study, Robert Dinapoli, Carl P. Lipo

Anthropology Datasets

Obsidian hydration dating (OHD) measures water absorption into volcanic glass to estimate artifact age. Recent studies using infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (IR-PAS) claim ±30-year precision, comparable to radiocarbon dating. We tested these claims by applying Bayesian hierarchical models to 242 published IR-PAS measurements from Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Standard OHD practice treats burial temperature and humidity as known constants; we instead modeled them as uncertain variables and propagated that uncertainty through the rate equation. Realistic dating uncertainties are ±300 years, ten times larger than the claimed value. The 95% credible interval for any individual date (~600 years) exceeds Rapa Nui's entire …

Voices Unheard: A Phenomenological Study Of Access And Inclusion Of College Students With Autism In The Southeastern United States, Janet L. Kuchinski

Dissertations

Although access to higher education has expanded for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many continue to encounter barriers to meaningful inclusion, belonging, and participation within the college environment. The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to explore the lived experiences of college students with ASD regarding access and inclusion in higher education. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit five college students with ASD who were at least 19 years of age, currently enrolled in college, and registered with disability services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted via Microsoft Teams and analyzed using established IPA procedures. …

Reclaiming The Sacred Science Of Garbha Samskara: The Adi Shaiva Tradition's Vision Of Conscious Conception And Prenatal Care, Rani Muthukrishnan

All Faculty Scholarship (Archived)

This paper examines Garbha Samskara practices described in the Garbha Upanishad within the Adi Shaiva tradition, exploring how ancient prenatal sciences cultivated cognitive development and spiritual consciousness in children. Drawing on original Sanskrit verses, the eNpregnancy program revived by Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism Sri Nithyananda Paramashivam (SPH), Akashic record readings, historical accounts of royal women who raised enlightened children, and testimonies of parents participating in the eNpregnancy program in modern times, the study demonstrates that pre-colonial Indian societies possessed advanced understandings of fetal consciousness and maternal–fetal bonding. It argues that modern Western educational paradigms and the contemporary expectations imposed on …

Adjustment Challenges In The International Student Population At A Rural Mid-Size Midwestern University, Sara El Bizri Hussein

All NMU Master's Theses

This qualitative descriptive study explored the adjustment experiences of non-athlete international students attending a rural, mid-size Midwestern university and identified the challenges and supports that shaped their transition.

Guided by Berry’s acculturation framework and informed by theories of student integration and coping, data were collected through an initial survey and semi-structured interviews. Seven participants were interviewed. Interview transcripts were analyzed using open and focused coding procedures to identify recurring patterns and themes.

Analysis revealed that international student adjustment is multidimensional and influenced by social, academic, emotional, cultural, environmental, and structural factors. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) Social …

Spreading Awareness And Advocating For The Shortage Of Special Education Resources In Martin County, Florida, Lynn Potter

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Goal Statement:

The goal is to prevent staff shortages of special education and student support professionals in Martin County, FL, and advocate for systemic changes that improve staff retention, raise awareness, and expand special education resources.

Significant Findings:

The shortage of ESE resources in Martin County, Florida, is affecting students’ success outcomes and relationships between parents and educators. With a 42% turnover rate over the past four years, the district needs to drastically improve teacher retention (WPBF 25 News, 2023). The western zone of Indiantown, which has a minority population of Hispanic and Latino students, is critically affected (United States …

Highly Confident But Slightly Uncertain: A Long Overdue Reinvention Of The School Scientific Method, Teaching - Volume 4, Stephen Demeo

Publications and Research

In Volume 4, the last book of the series, I continue the argument for greater parity between conceptual knowledge—the "what" of science—and methodological knowledge—the "how" of science—but in the context of teacher instruction. To this end, two literature reviews are presented: One on how students build confidence, specifically regarding the reliability or consistency of measurement or results, and the other on scientific uncertainty. Research studies focusing on student misconceptions are summarized and organized from the elementary to the college level. These literature reviews describe invaluable ways for teachers to improve their instruction, while providing examples of experiments that can be …

Understanding And Cultivating Algebraic Thinking: A Case Study Of Middle Grades Multilingual Learners, Damiale Johnson

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.) Dissertations

Multilingual learners often encounter challenges in mathematics classrooms due to the linguistic and interpretive demands of mathematical discourse and problem-solving. This qualitative case study investigated how three seventh-grade multilingual learners developed and demonstrated algebraic thinking during collaborative mathematical problem-solving tasks. Specifically, the study examined students’ strategies and resources, the challenges they encountered, and how language, collaboration, and representation supported algebraic and functional reasoning.

Guided by situated learning theory, sociocultural developmental theory, and the Algebraic Habits of Mind framework, the study emphasized social interaction, language, and contextualized problem-solving. Participants were Spanish-speaking multilingual learners developing academic proficiency in English in a middle …

The Role Of Complexity In Structural Transfer: A Corpus Study From Turkish And Bulgarian, Sarah Joy Russell

Theses and Dissertations

This study the explores the need to examine the increasingly varied methods of quantifying morphological complexity in regards to their ability to influence structural borrowing across languages, with particular attention to the distinction between enumerative complexity (enumeration of all of the morphemes and distinctions in a system) and integrative complexity (entropy-based calculation of the class distinctions of the system). While existing models in contact linguistics often assume that structurally simpler languages are more likely to serve as sources of grammatical transfer, such accounts typically rely on enumerative measures of complexity alone and do not fully account for the role of …

Co-Designing Multimodal, Multilingual Text Sets: Centering Caregiver Choice, Katie M. Crook, Emily Howell, Lindsey W. Rowe, Hazel Vega Quesada, C. C. Bates

Publications

Early literacy instruction in the U.S. often centers monolingual, English-dominant practices that marginalize multilingual learners and their families. This qualitative design-based research study examines a family literacy initiative that engaged caregivers and teachers as co-designers of a multilingual, multimodal literacy resource bag. Using the MultiSemiotic Architecture Framework, we analyzed qualitative data to explore how collaborative text selection can advance linguistic justice in early childhood education. Findings highlight five themes that shaped intentional text selection and supported multilingual home literacy practices: content, language, cultural relevance, curricular alignment, and collaborative modifications. By centering families' cultural and linguistic resources, the project disrupted monolingual …

Lawrence B. Solum, Lawrence B. Solum

Faculty CVs

No abstract provided.

Designing System Coherence For Content- Based English Language Development, Jeimee Estrada-Miller, Aline Matias, Raquel Gonzalez, Magaly Lavadenz, Elvira G. Armas

Center on English Language Proficiency Implementation Briefs

Advancing Comprehensive English Language Development: Designing System Coherence for Content-Based English Language Development is the second in a four-part implementation series focused on advancing high-quality English language development (ELD) systems. Drawing on research on educational change, organizational coherence, and instructional improvement, the brief recognizes that while effective classroom practices are essential, their impact depends on the organizational conditions that support consistent implementation. This brief examines the "how" of implementation by emphasizing system coherence—the intentional alignment of policies, leadership, organizational structures, and resources around a shared vision for language and content learning. It introduces seven foundational practices that support the coherent …

Operationalizing Ethics For Ai Agents: How Developers Encode Values Into Repository Context Files, Christoph Treude, Sebastian Baltes, Marc Cheong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

As AI coding agents become embedded in software development workflows, developers are beginning to operationalize ethical principles by encoding behavioral rules into repository-level context files for AI agents, such as AGENTS.md files. Rather than examining the ethics of AI agents in the abstract, this vision paper investigates how ethics and values are already being translated for AI agents into actionable instructions that shape agent behavior. Through a preliminary investigation, we find that developers are already embedding guidance related to fairness, accessibility, sustainability, tone, and privacy. These artifacts function as a developer-authored governance layer, translating abstract principles into situated, natural-language directives …