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Using Fables To Enhance Social Emotional Learning, Eric Albers Jul 2025

Using Fables To Enhance Social Emotional Learning, Eric Albers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question guiding this project is: How can we use fables to strengthen SEL connections with our students and families while enhancing the relationship between character development and life skills? The project addresses growing concerns about student anxiety, depression, and social disconnection while recognizing schools' expanding role in mental health. This work builds upon literature on home-school partnerships, bibliotherapy, and culturally responsive pedagogy, including research on fable comprehension, CASEL's SEL framework, and "funds of knowledge" that honor diverse cultural perspectives.The methodology involved developing a curriculum unit that integrates fables into the existing CharacterStrong SEL program through a Universal Design …

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Supporting Dual-Identified Learners, Emilie Scott Jul 2025

Supporting Dual-Identified Learners, Emilie Scott

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research shows the importance of collaborative teaching, advocacy, and differentiated approaches to support students with disabilities as well as English learners. This project is a professional development series that has three sessions, each covering a different topic relating to dual identified students. Session one will focus on collaboration and how ELD teachers can organize communication with different adults in the building. Knowing that ELD teachers have to communicate and collaborate with general education teachers, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators, this session will help give guidance into why it is important to be clear and included in communication. Session two …

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What Approaches Can A Preschool Teacher Use To Support Their Students’ Emotional Regulation Skills?, Lydia Caldwell Jul 2025

What Approaches Can A Preschool Teacher Use To Support Their Students’ Emotional Regulation Skills?, Lydia Caldwell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Emotional regulation is a foundational skill in early childhood, closely linked to social skill development, mental well-being, and long-term academic success. Throughout this paper, researcher Lydia Caldwell explores the following question: what approaches can a preschool teacher use to support their students’ emotional regulation skills? Drawing from both literature and personal classroom experiences, this project was created with the author’s profession in mind. As a special educator who works with preschool students, Caldwell sees firsthand the amount of children struggling with emotional regulation, also referred to as self-regulation. The project will result in a series of flyers which serve as …

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Promoting Environmental Literacy And Stewardship Through Interdisciplinary Teaching, Eric Wadnal Jul 2025

Promoting Environmental Literacy And Stewardship Through Interdisciplinary Teaching, Eric Wadnal

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Some of the most pressing issues the current generation is experiencing are related to the environment. Teachers, regardless of discipline, must be prepared to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to solve these issues. Environmental education (EE) is critical for promoting environmental literacy and stewardship. Therefore, this paper explores the research question: How can environmental education be applied to interdisciplinary learning that emphasizes community and builds meaningful connections to the local environment? The impact of connecting students to local environments and communities demonstrates the need for EE approaches that are contextually relevant, participatory, and interdisciplinary. To support …

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Solid Waste Education For Fourth Grade Students In Washington County, Minnesota, Jessica Hall Jul 2025

Solid Waste Education For Fourth Grade Students In Washington County, Minnesota, Jessica Hall

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The topic of environmental education has grown in recent years, but this study discovered that there is a lack of education focused on solid waste. Four key themes were explored in the current literature: climate anxiety, place-based education, social-emotional learning, and behavior change. This paper is not a research study, but rather a summary of previous research with a discussion of the current situation supporting the need for, and process of, this project’s development. The guiding questions for developing this project are: How can 4th-grade students and teachers in Washington County, Minnesota, perceive the impact of solid waste education lessons …

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Adult English As A Second Or Other Language Peer Oral Interaction In Online Breakout Rooms, Kathleen Moriarty Jul 2025

Adult English As A Second Or Other Language Peer Oral Interaction In Online Breakout Rooms, Kathleen Moriarty

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Peer interaction is essential for adult English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) students' oral skills development. However, it is more challenging to offer peer interaction in online synchronous classes. To support new teachers who begin online teaching, the author reviewed research on peer learning and online classroom interactional competencies. Based on a foundation of second language acquisition theories and communicative teaching practices, oral skills are developed more with specific types of activities in online breakout rooms: task-based, cooperative, and collaborative activities. These activities are inherently social and motivate learners to engage in negotiation for meaning and a focus …

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Fostering Resilience Through Near Peer Mentorship In Elementary School, Bway Paw Jul 2025

Fostering Resilience Through Near Peer Mentorship In Elementary School, Bway Paw

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Near-peer mentoring involves pairing students with peers who are close in age but slightly more advanced in experience ensures the students' needs are met in ways that feel supportive and accessible. This capstone project explores how peer mentoring fosters social-emotional resilience in elementary students. The project is designed for a ten-week curriculum using the Minnesota SEL standard, which uses CASEL’s five competencies to be integrated into the classroom. Frameworks that carry this project include Bandura's social learning theory and self-efficacy, Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), Identity-Based Motivation (IBM), along with Masten’s ordinary magic. Research on resilience highlights that resilience …

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Immersing Historical And Contemporary Indigenous Literature Into Middle School Reading And Writing Workshops, Connor Lynch Jul 2025

Immersing Historical And Contemporary Indigenous Literature Into Middle School Reading And Writing Workshops, Connor Lynch

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This paper examines literacy and Indigenous literature through the guiding question ; What are the merits of infusing and integrating Indigenous literature in middle school reading and writing workshops in order to address state standards in representing perspectives and identities of historical and contemporary Dakota and Anishinaabe people? Through review of research literature and curriculum development methodology, this capstone concludes that Indigenous literature integration has positive impacts on student critical thinking development, cultural competence, analytical skills, and educational justice while successfully meeting legislative compliance requirements. By re-emphasizing Dakota and Anishinaabe perspectives in curriculum, students engaging with authentic Indigenous literature can …

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Developing Growth Mindsets In The Math Classroom, James Logan Jul 2025

Developing Growth Mindsets In The Math Classroom, James Logan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone seeks to answer the question, How can students develop growth mindsets while learning math? The research was inspired by the belief that learning mathematics could help students develop a growth mindset, which could have a positive impact on both their academic achievement and their overall well-being outside of school. A literature review was conducted focusing on the value of a growth mindset, specific strategies for its development, and the effects of a growth mindset on underrepresented populations. The research confirmed the importance of growth mindsets, identifying both academic and social-emotional benefits. Additionally, multiple strategies for developing growth mindsets …

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The Influence Of Supported Mainstream Classes On High School Special Education Students' Social And Emotional Learning, Clare Murr Jul 2025

The Influence Of Supported Mainstream Classes On High School Special Education Students' Social And Emotional Learning, Clare Murr

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This study investigated how participation in supported mainstream classes influences social and emotional learning outcomes of high school special education students. The project was a result of the research done to answer the question: When high school special education students participate in supported mainstream classes, how are their social and emotional learning outcomes influenced? A comprehensive literature review revealed that integration of special education students into the mainstream classroom benefits their social and emotional development; however, unsupported inclusion often results in isolation and peer rejection. Effective co-teaching partnerships, that use the combined expertise of general and special education teachers, can …

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The Integration Of Movement And Technology In Elementary Schools: Enhancing Student Learning, Emily Hillis Jul 2025

The Integration Of Movement And Technology In Elementary Schools: Enhancing Student Learning, Emily Hillis

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of technology has increased within elementary classrooms. Research shows that there are many advantages and disadvantages to students having these technology tools during the school day. Movement-based learning has since taken a decline in elementary classrooms since the pandemic. Research suggests that movement is impactful to students retention, engagement, and mood. This encouraged the idea of How can educators combine technology and movement activities to enhance learning outcomes for elementary students? The literature review explores the different sides of technology and movement-based learning. It examines the advantages and disadvantages, challenges, and the impact that …

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Incorporating Cooperative Learning And Active Listening Skills In Secondary-Level Science Classrooms, Kaveri Kamatgi Jul 2025

Incorporating Cooperative Learning And Active Listening Skills In Secondary-Level Science Classrooms, Kaveri Kamatgi

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Middle school students are in a key stage of developing their social and emotional skills. Research emphasizes the importance of focusing on effective instructional strategies to support and enhance that development. In science classrooms, this means providing opportunities for cooperative learning and active listening skills, enabling students to interact and consider diverse perspectives while working in lab investigations, problem-based activities, or research projects. According to the NGSS framework for K-12 science education, students are expected to engage in scientific practices that foster scientific thinking skills. To support the development of these skills, this capstone project explored the question: How can …

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What Are The Most Effective Social-Emotional Behavioral Management Strategies For Creating A Culturally Affirming Classroom Environment?, Bill Cook Jul 2025

What Are The Most Effective Social-Emotional Behavioral Management Strategies For Creating A Culturally Affirming Classroom Environment?, Bill Cook

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Classroom management often emphasizes teacher control and a top-down approach. But what if we built a classroom culture with students, one rooted in relationships, identity, culture, and the social-emotional skills they need to succeed? This Capstone explores how integrating SEL into academic and classroom settings can shape classroom culture and transform our approach to management. It answers the question, What are the most effective social-emotional behavioral management strategies for creating a culturally affirming classroom environment? How can creating a binder of social-emotional strategies help teachers create a culturally affirming classroom? This project highlights the five core SEL competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social …

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From Classrooms To Jail Cells: Reimagining Accountability In Public Education, Lennin Cruz Rojas Jul 2025

From Classrooms To Jail Cells: Reimagining Accountability In Public Education, Lennin Cruz Rojas

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Exclusionary discipline practices in the United States continue to funnel vulnerable students into the criminal justice system, reinforcing the school-to-prison pipeline. This capstone explores the methods and punishments students receive by asking: How do zero tolerance policies and exclusionary discipline practices in schools contribute to and play a role in the school-to-prison pipeline, particularly students of color? Through a mix methodology combining literature research, participant interviews, and narrative podcasting, the work examines how restorative frameworks can foster accountability, empathy, and community healing. The podcast weaves personal stories with data to shed light on the cost of zero tolerance discipline. The …

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Centering Adult Basic Education Students As Learners And Creators With Class Websites, Kristy Cannon Jul 2025

Centering Adult Basic Education Students As Learners And Creators With Class Websites, Kristy Cannon

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

An adult basic education (ABE) class website can integrate educational theories and technology to center students as learners and creators. This research explored educational theories that include andragogy, other adult-specific learning theories, heutagogy, constructivism, culturally relevant theories, and traditional teacher-centered learning models and methods. This project integrated those learning theories with the online modality of a tool-rich class website to promote digital literacy and center students as learners and creators actively participating in their own learning. The project is a Google Sites class website that can be used as a model or template for ABE teachers to copy, modify, and …

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Combating Burnout: Science Curriculum That Decreases Teacher Workload, Christopher Yauch Jul 2025

Combating Burnout: Science Curriculum That Decreases Teacher Workload, Christopher Yauch

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project produced five days of lesson plans, a document to help assess lessons, and a reminder list which all promote the successful adoption of inquiry-based learning (IBL) into a classroom. The adoption of IBL ideally functions to allow teachers to decrease the overall “workload” or amount of prep time needed to teach traditionally content-heavy courses by way of empowering students to become the center of the learning process. Current research indicates there are noted barriers to widespread IBL adoption, such as lack of administrative support, lack of appropriate teacher training, and commonplace reliance on traditional learning styles. When implemented …

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Teacher Autonomy And Collaboration: Achieving More Equitable Outcomes, Lucas Sun Jul 2025

Teacher Autonomy And Collaboration: Achieving More Equitable Outcomes, Lucas Sun

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Collaboration and autonomy are core components of teaching. Collaboration may have become ubiquitous due to the rising prevalence of Professional Learning Communities, and autonomy has always been crucial for teachers to feel empowered and take ownership of their classrooms. Together, collaboration and autonomy each can impact student equity negatively and positively. The guiding question is then: How does teacher autonomy and collaboration affect student equity in the classroom? Reviewing literature found that teacher autonomy can cause stagnation in teaching practices or allow for meaningful differentiation. Collaboration can create rote compliance tasks or allow teachers to take risks to continuously improve. …

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The Literary Games We Play: Science Fiction In The Teaching Of Secondary Science, Luiza Roos Jul 2025

The Literary Games We Play: Science Fiction In The Teaching Of Secondary Science, Luiza Roos

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project responds to a need for interdisciplinary approaches that merge literacy development with scientific inquiry, recognizing the challenges of engaging diverse learners in complex ecological and evolutionary content. Drawing from research in fiction-based learning (Wong et al., 2024), science fiction and science pedagogy (Bixler, 2007), role-playing games in education (Cheville, 2016), and culturally responsive teaching (Rodriguez & Morrison, 2019), the project aims to make science more accessible, inclusive, and relevant to students’ lived experiences. This capstone explores how science fiction novels, specifically The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi, can be effectively integrated into a secondary science curriculum to …

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Assessing The Relationship Between Screen Time, Academic Achievement, Executive Function, And Emotional Regulation: The Role Of Digital Citizenship In The Upper Elementary Classroom, Katherine Carlson Jul 2025

Assessing The Relationship Between Screen Time, Academic Achievement, Executive Function, And Emotional Regulation: The Role Of Digital Citizenship In The Upper Elementary Classroom, Katherine Carlson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Recent research has shown that elementary school students are spending time online at unprecedented rates, and that this excessive screen time has negative impacts on the physical and psychological health of children. The research question addressed in this project was: what is the association between screen time, academic achievement, executive function, and emotional regulation in elementary school-aged children? Excessive screen time has been found to negatively impact children’s emotional regulation, but the data regarding the association between academic achievement, executive function, and screen time were inconclusive, resulting in a partial rejection of the hypothesis. The research suggested that screen time …

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The Buzzard In The Abolitionist Sea; An Examination Of Maritime Suppression, Imperial Policy, And The Slave Trade Through The Royal Navy’S Hms Buzzard, 1830s-1840s, Sean Joaquim Coudray-Pereira Jul 2025

The Buzzard In The Abolitionist Sea; An Examination Of Maritime Suppression, Imperial Policy, And The Slave Trade Through The Royal Navy’S Hms Buzzard, 1830s-1840s, Sean Joaquim Coudray-Pereira

Master's Theses

Analysis of the Royal Navy through the microhistory of the HMS Buzzard following the abolition of the slave trade between 1807 and the 1840s by Great Britain offers insight into the moral ambiguities and complexities of the humanitarian mission. The historiography of the slave trade has primarily focused on the moral and economic ideology behind its abolition, pitting one against the other. Applying a micro-historic approach highlights the nuances of both arguments, and through the HMS Buzzard’s crew, captives, disease, voyages, and legal battles accentuates the blend of both argument approaches. The case study of its longevity through all six …

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An Investigation Of Preservice And Novice Elementary Education Graduate Students’ Self-Efficacy Toward Teaching Engineering Design, Victoria Harkins Cameron Jul 2025

An Investigation Of Preservice And Novice Elementary Education Graduate Students’ Self-Efficacy Toward Teaching Engineering Design, Victoria Harkins Cameron

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examined how an experiential learning–based pedagogical approach influenced the development of teaching engineering self-efficacy in preservice and novice elementary education graduate students. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, the study examined the impact of mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and affective states on shaping participants’ instructional self-efficacy. Data were collected using the Teaching Engineering Self-Efficacy Scale (TESS), written reflections, and a focus group. Engineering pedagogical content knowledge was the only TESS construct to show statistically significant gains, while qualitative findings indicated broader growth in self-efficacy and emotional readiness. The study’s …

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The Effect Of An Interdisciplinary Project On Students’ Understandings Of Mathematical Interdisciplinarity: A Qualitative Action Research Study, Jaime Krause Jul 2025

The Effect Of An Interdisciplinary Project On Students’ Understandings Of Mathematical Interdisciplinarity: A Qualitative Action Research Study, Jaime Krause

Theses and Dissertations

The siloed nature of education has likely caused some high school students to not recognize the interdisciplinary nature of mathematics, leading them to misunderstand its relationship to other subject areas. A misunderstanding of mathematical interdisciplinarity can cause issues when these students approach interdisciplinary problems later in life. The purpose of this study was to observe, investigate, and analyze the ways in which students understand mathematical interdisciplinarity following a collaborative and interdisciplinary project. I implemented a descriptive qualitative action research approach to determine how a collaborative interdisciplinary project on NASA technology in a high school mathematics course affects students’ understandings of …

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The Impact Of The Flipped Learning Approach On Student Engagement In A High School Chemistry Classroom, Alana Lyn Hicks Jul 2025

The Impact Of The Flipped Learning Approach On Student Engagement In A High School Chemistry Classroom, Alana Lyn Hicks

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study investigated the impact of the flipped classroom approach on student engagement and attitudes within a science classroom. Data was collected using student-reported responses on the Classroom Engagement Inventory, Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, student journal entries, teacher reflective journals, and an observation tracking chart kept by the classroom teacher. Findings revealed that the flipped classroom model significantly increased affective and cognitive engagement among students in a larger class size, as well as for medium-achieving students and girls. These results suggest that while the flipped classroom has the potential to enhance engagement, its effectiveness is influenced …

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Professional Learning Communities And Digital Literacy: A Framework For Elementary Education, Lauren Hunt Jul 2025

Professional Learning Communities And Digital Literacy: A Framework For Elementary Education, Lauren Hunt

Theses and Dissertations

As digital technologies redefine the definition of literacy, elementary teachers face the challenge of effectively integrating digital literacies into their classroom spaces. This dissertation examines how professional development can enhance teachers’ understanding and implementation of high-quality digital literacy practices. Grounded in the New Literacies framework, the study identifies key characteristics of effective digital literacy instruction and explores how professional development that is contextualized, meaningful, and sustained can foster these practices. Using data from classroom observations, professional learning communities, and teacher interviews, the research highlights how individualized coaching and collaboration empower teachers to create authentic, engaging, and critical digital literacy experiences. …

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Assessing Health And Academic Disparities In The Deep South: The Enduring Impact Of Segregation And Redlining In Georgia, Bridget Hamilton Jul 2025

Assessing Health And Academic Disparities In The Deep South: The Enduring Impact Of Segregation And Redlining In Georgia, Bridget Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Within the American South, marginalized Black populations continue to suffer from health disparities. A key resource that could aid in the prevention of health disparities such as teen pregnancy is the school nurse. School nurses are well positioned to assist in the development of independent health maintenance among student populations. However, school nurses remain understaffed and underfunded throughout most of the United States, which limits their effectiveness. It is possible that within southern states there are inequities in how school resources are allocated that have ties to segregation and redlining practices that systemically marginalized Black populations throughout the 1900s. …

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Enhancing Self-Efficacy In Ap Psychology Through Targeted Intervention Strategies, Felicia Jennifer Butler Jul 2025

Enhancing Self-Efficacy In Ap Psychology Through Targeted Intervention Strategies, Felicia Jennifer Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-method action research case study was to measure the effects of an individualized intervention on academic self-efficacy and academic achievement in an Advanced Placement (AP) psychology class. The study focused on four students who received a failing grade on the first unit test and took place over an eight-week period. Quantitative data was collected in the form of assessment data (both formative and summative), survey questions modeled after the General Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (GASE), and assignment completion. Qualitative data was collected in the form of semi-structured interviews and open-ended reflection questions. The findings suggest that psychology …

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Effects Of Science Of Reading Pedagogy On Student Self-Efficacy In The Elementary Intervention Classroom, Emily Marie Robinette Jul 2025

Effects Of Science Of Reading Pedagogy On Student Self-Efficacy In The Elementary Intervention Classroom, Emily Marie Robinette

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study investigated the effects Science of Reading pedagogy and curriculum have on students’ reading self-efficacy within the setting of the elementary intervention classroom. The theoretical framework, Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, guided the study’s research questions, review of literature, methodology, and data analysis. The conceptual framework of the Science of Reading theory and educational movement served as the primary source of design and implementation of the intervention. Students participated in pre-, mid-, and post intervention interviews which measured students’ perceptions about their reading self-efficacy throughout the intervention period. They also participated in weekly reading self-efficacy questionnaires, which provided …

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Separate But Not Equal: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Of Adjunct Structural Empowerment, Experiences, And Perceived Needs In A Midwestern Community College, Shauna Sowga Jul 2025

Separate But Not Equal: A Sequential Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Of Adjunct Structural Empowerment, Experiences, And Perceived Needs In A Midwestern Community College, Shauna Sowga

Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions are increasingly reliant on contingent or gig-based labor in the form of adjunct faculty. Adjunct faculty make up the majority of community college faculty, yet they tend to receive the least support, resources, and training investments from colleges. This is no different at Metro Community College, a large, urban college in the Midwest. The problem of practice for this study revolves around Metro Community College social sciences adjunct faculty’s needs for support, resources, and training to do their jobs effectively. This sequential explanatory mixed methods study examined these adjuncts’ structural empowerment, experiences, and perceived needs for support …

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Lessons In Game Use: Examining Engagement And Content Knowledge With The Use Of Digital Game-Based Learning Lessons In Biology, Rebecca Anne Valencia Jul 2025

Lessons In Game Use: Examining Engagement And Content Knowledge With The Use Of Digital Game-Based Learning Lessons In Biology, Rebecca Anne Valencia

Theses and Dissertations

According to both national and local data, students in high school biology classes are disengaged in content learning and do not demonstrate sufficient understanding of the content taught during units focused on the mechanisms of heredity and gene expression. Traditional teaching methods do not hold their interest which leads to disengagement and missed learning opportunities. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the effect of digital game-based learning lessons on biology 1 students’ engagement and content knowledge application regarding the mechanisms of heredity and gene expression, as well as on the students’ perceptions of their digital game-based learning …

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Unveiling Injustices In Theodore Dreiser's “An American Tragedy” And Susan Glaspell's “A Jury Of Her Peers”, Athena Maria Dotsikas Jul 2025

Unveiling Injustices In Theodore Dreiser's “An American Tragedy” And Susan Glaspell's “A Jury Of Her Peers”, Athena Maria Dotsikas

Theses and Dissertations

Crime and its representation in new age media is seeping into every avenue of discussion nowadays. The influence of crime is most notably evident in literature, where real cases inspired fictional novels and short stories that explore social issues and injustices. Since the 16th century, true crime has captivated human curiosity while also shedding light on the United States legal and justice system. Ultimately, true crime narratives provide a deeper understanding of human psychology and the reasons behind a number of gruesome and horrific incidents. This thesis investigates how Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy and Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of …

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