Digital Commons Network^™

59-1 Complete Issue

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

No abstract provided.

A Call To Threaten Systemic Inequities Through Critical ‎Crosscultural Communicative Competence In Future Teachers: ‎Engaging Els In Stem Using A Critical Conceptual Framework, Abdelilah Salim Sehlaoui, Hassan Zaid

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

This article shares a critical conceptual framework to threaten ‎systemic ‎inequities through computer-assisted language learning (CALL) using a critical ‎crosscultural communicative competence (C⁵) and equity literacy to engage English ‎learners (ELs) in ‎Science, ‎Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The proposed critical conceptual framework is compatible with ways of thinking in STEM-based problem solving (English, 2023). To achieve this goal, a theory adaptation ‎critical research design was used with a sociocultural analysis and a modified transactional ‎epistemology critical approach. The paper argues for building a critical conceptual framework that is based fundamentally on a critical view of equity literacy …

Sustainable Model For Analyzing The Impact Of Social Media On Customer Buying Behavior: A Case Study, Bshair Alharthi, Mohammed A. Farsi

Sustainable Machine Intelligence Journal

In today's digital landscape, chatbots have become widely used across various applications, particularly in systems that provide intelligent assistance to users. To enhance user experience, these systems are often equipped with chatbots capable of processing user inquiries and delivering accurate, timely responses. This study proposes a structured framework for evaluating the impact of social media on customer buying behavior through a case study focused on selecting the most suitable Online Chatbot Platform (OCP). The selection of an optimal OCP is a complex multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem, involving multiple interdependent and often conflicting factors. One of the key challenges in this …

University Faculty Research Competence: A Systematic Literature Review Of Core Components, Distinctions, And Measures, Muhammad Salahuddin, Robert H. Stupnisky

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Recent studies identified that faculty research productivity increased when they felt competent in conducting research. Faculty level of research competency varies due to academic training, context, country, discipline, and experiences; however, what is faculty research competency? The core competencies of faculty research are unclear; thus, the current study systematically reviewed the literature. Researchers used Boolean searches of four popular databases to identify 553 articles for first-level screening. These yielded 46 peer-reviewed journal articles for full-text analysis, six of which focused on faculty populations (40 on non-faculty). Six core components of faculty research proficiency were identified: finding and reviewing literature, planning …

One Of These Things: A Poetic Exploration Of Waste And Discordant Objects, Brittany Ellsworth

The Goose

In this narrative essay, I present my thoughts and concerns about the physical waste I encounter on my adventures in my hometown of Corner Brook, NL. I also introduce and differentiate between garbage and my proposed concept of discordant objects and how these objects have inspired my poetic and creative writing practice. The essay concludes with a poem and photograph of one such discordant object.

Limitations In Speech Recognition For Young Adults With Down Syndrome, Franceli L. Cibrian, Yingying 'Yuki' Chen, Kayla Anderson, Cecilia Marie Abrahamsson, Vivian Genaro Motti

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Speech recognition has the potential to make technology more accessible to users. However, the accuracy of speech recognition remains limited for users with disabilities, including those with Down Syndrome, and the types and frequencies of recognition errors are poorly understood. This paper characterizes these problems, focusing on errors occurring when recognizing Down Syndrome speech. We analyze the transcripts from six speech recognition algorithms (Google, IBM, Otter.ai, Microsoft, AssemblyAI, OpenAI) using the audio content of 15 individuals with Down Syndrome (331 dialogues; 3428 words). Our analysis shows: (1) significant difference in speech recognition accuracy for people with Down Syndrome compared to …

The Effect Of Age Of Acquisition On The Development Of Lexical Attainment And Oral Proficiency In English As L2 In Adult Native Arabic Speakers, Mona Ahmed Kamar El-Zaman

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of the age of acquisition (AoA) on the development of lexical attainment and oral proficiency in English as a second language (L2) among adult native Arabic speakers, focusing on classroom foreign language learners within the Egyptian context. AoA, a critical variable in second language acquisition (SLA) research, is explored in relation to two key domains: lexical knowledge and oral proficiency. The study examines the role of AoA and AoA related effects, such as the order of bilingualism and the length of exposure to rich language input (LoE) as a confounding factor. Through a mixed-methods approach, …

Returning To The Beginning Place: Le Guin’S Forgotten Anti-Fantasy Four Decades On, Timothy S. Miller

UKL: The Journal of Ursula K. Le Guin Studies

Ursula K. Le Guin's 1980 portal fantasy The Beginning Place has received a fraction of the critical attention that most of her other novels have attracted over the years. This short book's many enigmas, often structured by self-consciously Jungian symbolism, are best understood as operating in service not to a strict Jungian framework, but rather to a broader metafictional evaluation of fantasy and an articulation of Le Guin's own preferred approach to the reading and interpretation of fantasy. At times, The Beginning Place moves beyond meta-fantasy to become an anti-fantasy that does not shy from critiquing some dimensions of both …

Innovative Instruction To Cultivate Young Adolescents’ Creativity In A Virtual Environment, Stacie K. Pettit, Christi L. Pace, Dawn Jeffers, Emily Harrison

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The unique needs of high-ability young adolescents should be met just as those students with other diverse needs even when instruction becomes virtual. This paper highlights the work of two teachers who overcame the challenges of remote and hybrid learning to provide quality lessons on creativity, logic, and problem solving. They are accomplishing this for 4th and 5th grade students in their gifted program through project-based learning and other lessons situated around creativity. The strategies presented that encourage students to exercise creativity would be beneficial for all students.

Gatekeeping As An Online Adjunct Clinical Instructor In Counselor Education, Bernadet Dejonge, Deborah J. Rubel, Yun Shi

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Abstract

This interpretative phenomenological analysis study examined how adjunct instructors teaching online clinical counseling courses experienced gatekeeping in the context of the university system. The research question was: How do online, adjunct instructors teaching master’s level clinical counseling courses experience their university interactions as a part of gatekeeping? The participants described five experiential themes. These were: a) Balancing marginalization in the system with advocacy for the profession; b) Maneuvering through dependency on the system in gatekeeping; c) Finding consultation while navigating gatekeeping interactions; d) Managing the intensity of clinical courses; and e) Navigating the steep learning curve of learning how …

Building Community In Counselor Education Doctoral Programs: A Grounded Theory, Ellise Nolan, Madeline Clark, Rachel Mattingly, Sahar Sheikh, Jennifer Rio

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

The researchers utilized a grounded theory methodology to study the process of community building in counselor education doctoral programs. Researchers found, throughout their program, students have a series of catalytic experiences during which they either experience program supports or barriers, leading to outcomes which influence student sense of community, wellness, and retention.

Trauma-Informed Bilingual Counselor Education: Factors To Guide Professional Mental Health Training With Spanish-Speaking Students, Fernando Estrada, Miguel A. Arana

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Latine immigrants confront various forms of violence that increases their risk for traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. There is a need to advance the training of counselors who can work with Spanish-speaking clients exposed to trauma. The goal of this study was to articulate a literature-based conceptualization of trauma-informed bilingual counselor education. The results of a content analysis facilitated a synthesis of the relevant scholarship that highlighted four main facets: (i) integrative translanguage pedagogy, (ii) immigrant trauma exposure and reaction, (iii) culturally responsive socio-emotional interventions, and (iv) bilingual supervisory alliance. These factors can help guide professional graduate training. Implications …

How Professional Counselors Experience Being Intake Counselors In The Inpatient Psychiatric Setting, Nineka K. Dyson, Deborah J. Rubel, Arien Muzacz

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Abstract

Intake counselors (ICs) are essential members of an interdisciplinary team who assess potential clients for admission to inpatient psychiatric facilities. This interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) explored the experiences of professional counselors working as ICs in inpatient psychiatric settings (n = 8). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using IPA procedures. Four themes emerged that dealt with participants’ experiences: (1) coping with the lack of specific training, (2) balancing professional identity and system requirements, (3) coping with the emotional stressors of the inpatient environment, and (4) depending on scarce connection and support for sustainability. The findings of …

2025 Furman University Scholarship Reception Program, Madeline Eastergard, Kathie Sloan

Libraries Institutional Records

On February 14, 2025, the Libraries and the Office of the Provost hosted the Furman University Scholarship Reception. The reception showcased scholarly publications, creative works, and professional accomplishments of Furman faculty or staff from the 2024 calendar year. It highlighted Furman faculty and staff who completed a degree, received a grant from an external funding source totaling more than $1,000, and/or published books, book chapters, journal articles, exhibits, recordings, performances, films, or other works. The following Furman presenters provided four-minute speeches about their scholarly or creative works:

• Liz Bouzarth, Professor of Mathematics
• John Harris, Professor of Mathematics
• Kevin Hutson, Professor …

Adapting Biological Mechanisms Into Machine Learning Structures And Gradient Propagation, Hao Yu

Theses and Dissertations

As neuromorphic computing gains traction, researchers look for learning schemes that are more suitable for brain-like structures. Although many algorithms have been discovered, such as surrogate gradient or Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity, those algorithms are either unsuitable for on-chip training or not biologically aligned. The goal of this thesis is to discover a learning algorithm which is biologically aligned and suitable for on-chip training. Through the discoveries of our two papers, we are able to introduce the concepts of synaptic clefts and neurotransmitters into a common spiking neuron network. We also designed an error propagation method aligning with biology. With …

Staff Education On Medication Adherence Teaching For Psychiatric Patients In The Outpatient Setting, Ernestina Akosua Ohene-Agyakwah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Summary The type of doctoral project was staff education. The aim was to address the practice gap of lack of standardized staff education on medication adherence in the outpatient psychiatric care setting. The practice-focused question was "Will staff education on medication adherence for psychiatric patients in the outpatient setting result in an increase in staff knowledge?" To provide staff with the information and abilities they needed to consistently deliver patient education that supported evidence, the project created, carried out, and assessed a structured staff education program. Knowledge changes among the 10 participants were evaluated and measured using the mean difference …

Bridging Learning Gaps: Enhancing Student Success Through Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support, Kimberly C. Mott

Dissertations

As students arrive at school with more and more diverse needs, due to different and sometimes traumatic life experiences, the obstacles students must overcome to be ready to learn are oftentimes unsurmountable. However, as an experienced educator, the scholar-practitioner has observed that students demonstrate academic growth when the whole child's needs (academic, attendance, behavioral/social-emotional) are regularly observed, measured, addressed, and progress monitored. This quantitative study aimed to examine the influence and effectiveness of implementing multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) with fidelity. The scholar-practitioner used two data points to determine the effectiveness of a prescriptive embedded MTSS professional development. The first …

Debugprograde: Improving Automated Assessment Of Coding Assignments With A Focus On Debugging, Amit Patel, Hardik Joshi

Journal of Informatics and Web Engineering

In education, the evaluation of programming assignments is challenging, especially to do with the debugging aspect. Self-grading technologies are unable to capture the level of understanding of students and context-bound responses. In light of these, we created DebugProGrade to take what we normally know about grading and improve it with semantic analysis and keyword extraction. DebugProGrade identified 1000 first-year BCA students who in Google Forms provided their answers to evaluate error detection and solution proposals for a basic C programming assignment. For the explanations’ specificity and for the context-level evaluation, the system employs the SBERT embedding, namely, the sentence-transformer bidirectional …

Tamil Cinema, Perianayagam Jesudoss

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Children’S Rights And The Media, Michael Rich, Sonia Livingstone, Dafna Lemish, Joellen Fisherkeller, June H. Lee, Charlotte F. Cole

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Eng 3008-001 Digital Writing And Multimodal Texts, Rachael Ryerson

Fall 2024

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Levels Of Usage Of Summit K-12 And Language Acquisition Of Emergent Bilingual Students, Paula Cushanick

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

School districts are required to identify emergent bilingual (EB) students, provide appropriate bilingual education programs, and assess language acquisition progress to ensure equal educational opportunity. The problem investigated in this study was that, in 2022, only 38% of the EB student population in Southwestern School District (SSD, a pseudonym) demonstrated progress in achieving English language proficiency in the composite scores of the TELPAS assessment that included listening, speaking, reading, and writing language domains. The Summit K-12 computerized intervention program was instituted by SSD to address EB student language development. Guided by Sparrow’s holistic biliteracy framework, the purpose of this quasi-experimental, …

Hispanic Family Caregivers’ Experiences With Dementia Patients During The Covid-19 Emergency, Vivian Arroyo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted caregiving dynamics, particularly for Hispanic family caregivers of dementia patients. This qualitative study explored the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of these caregivers during the pandemic. The theoretical framework was systems theory. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 participants to collect data. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling and responded to open-ended questions regarding their caregiving experiences. The collected data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis The findings revealed four themes: (a) caregiving strategies, including time management, collaboration, and reliance on religious faith; (b) self-care experiences, which highlighted the balance between personal …

The Approach Of The Noble Qur’An In Rooting The Personality Of The Young Man And Highlighting His Qualities (Semantic Study) Cave Man And Luqman's Commandments To His Son), عبدالله علي عبدالرحمن أبو السعود

Al-miʿyār

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the meaning of personality and youth in the Holy Quran, shedding light on two models of Quranic verses that talk about young people or describe their situation (the young men of the cave and the advice of Luqman to his son). The study then highlights the ideal qualities that the Holy Quran seeks to instill in the emerging generation and the blameworthy qualities that should be avoided. This is to shape their personalities and influence their present and future. The study also draws from the interpretations of scholars that serve these …

The Social Interpretation Of Surat Al-Balad And Its Impact On Addressing Poverty, Dr. Ali Sayour, Hafiz Khair

Al-miʿyār

This research is titled The Social Interpretation of Surat Al-Balad and Its Impact on Addressing Poverty answers a question: How does Surat Al-Balad, through its interpretation from a social perspective, provide solutions to the phenomenon of poverty prevalence? The research has two topics: the first is indicating the research terminology, and the second is dividing Surat Al-Balad into Four Sections; each section contains several verses presenting a method that contributes to addressing poverty. In this research, both descriptive and deductive methodology was used. It concluded with several results, including: proving that Surat Al-Balad provides us with a model that is …

Integrating Fuzzy Set Theory With Association Rule Mining For Advanced E-Commerce Recommendations, Hind Raad Ibraheem, Murtadha Mohammed Hamad

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The dynamic nature of e-commerce necessitates the adoption of cutting-edge technologies to improve the online shopping experience. Our research introduces a groundbreaking methodology called Fuzzy Association Rule Mining (FARM), combining fuzzy set theory with traditional Association Rule Mining (ARM). Unlike conventional ARM, which focuses solely on the frequency of jointly purchased items, FARM also considers the sold quantities, leveraging the Apriori algorithm to discern customer preferences from historical sales data across the UCI Online Retail II, Market Basket, and Movielens datasets. This hybrid of fuzzy set theory with ARM enables a better understanding of complicated consumer behaviors and associations between …

The Efficacy Of Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Techniques In Developing Critical Thinking In Mathematics Among Secondary School Students And Their Attitudes Toward It, Mohammad A. Tashtoush, Aida B. Qasimi, Nawal H. Shirawia, Lubna A. Hussein

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques and programs in developing Critical Thinking Skills (CTSs) in mathematics among secondary school students, as well as their attitudes towards it. This study employed an experimental methodology, which was applied to a sample of 91 students. A critical thinking test and a scale to measure students' Attitudes Towards Mathematics (ATM) were also utilized. This study revealed significant improvements in the mean scores of critical thinking skills among secondary students who were exposed to Artificial Intelligence Techniques (AITs), particularly in deduction, interpretation, inference, and evaluation. Additionally, …

Dog Whistles And Division: Evolution Of Covert Language In The 2024 Election Cycle, Julia Lavine

CAFE Symposium 2025

This project examines the existing roles of political dog whistles and compares them to how each candidate used them in the 2024 election cycle. It then examines how the candidates' different backgrounds influenced their rhetoric and use of dog whistles, especially through socioeconomic, racial, and gendered lenses.

Familiarity Of Psychiatric Terms Among College Students, Julia Pekala

CAFE Symposium 2025

Recently, there has been an increase in the usage of psychiatric terminology used among internet users. Terms such as autism, obsessive compulsive disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are thrown around without an understanding of these words and their true meaning. These words are picked up and used in a similar context as any other internet lingo, in an ironic, joking manner, without proper consideration of their origins and meaning. Due to most content on the internet being unmoderated and seemingly endless, users are often faced with misleading information about real clinical disorders. The use of these words follows the …

The Significance Of Social Media Neologisms Across The Globe, Molly Bushong

CAFE Symposium 2025

Social media neologisms, new terms coined through digital platforms, have drastically altered human communication, and will only continue to do so as technology rapidly advances. These words and phrases develop alongside society as innovative technology, experiences, and phenomena are continuously introduced into everyday life. Although neologisms have been present throughout all time and social media's existence, research has identified that their popularity has exponentially increased in recent years. My research builds upon previous research while exploring how social media neologisms have evolved over the past five years, their impact on language formality, and the familiarity of these terms across various …