Education Commons^™

Standards-Based Grading In Technical Theatre, Tetta M. Askeland

Essays in Education

This paper explores the implementation of standards-based grading in theatrical education as an alternative to traditional grading methods. The background section discusses the limitations and biases of conventional grading scales, highlighting issues such as the emphasis on point collection over knowledge acquisition and the problematic use of zeros. The paper then introduces standards-based grading, outlining its key features and benefits, including a focus on learning standards, clear feedback, and emphasis on mastery. A detailed explanation of how to integrate this approach into a theatrical classroom is provided, along with a grade translation system to align with traditional letter grades. The …

Client Feedback Effects On Enjoyment, Motivation And Self-Efficacy In A Project-Based Learning Course, Krista Stacey, David M. Bourrie

University Faculty and Staff Publications

This paper reports a mixed-methods evaluation of how feedback/project source (faculty-led versus client-led) shapes student outcomes in a two-course undergraduate game and simulation development sequence (N = 29 across two academic years). Quantitative measures (enjoyment, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy) were collected with a six-point Likert survey and analyzed, but due to small sample sizes were not used to empirically evaluate the constructs. Instead, qualitative data comprised of de-identified focus-group transcripts and open-ended survey responses were analyzed with a keyword-assisted codebook and manual validation. Year 1 (faculty feedback) exhibited more consistent post-course gains, especially in self-efficacy, while Year 2 (client feedback) produced …

International Students In Early American Forensics: Notes On The History Of The U.S.-Japan Forensics Relationship During The Late 19th And Early 20th Centuries, Satoru Aonuma, Junya Morooka, Tomohiro Kanke

Studies in Debate and Oratory

Ending 215 years of “national seclusion,” in 1854, Japan ratified the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States and opened its doors to the rest of the world. Because of this special bilateral relationship, between the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, more Japanese began traveling to the U.S. than to any other country. Focusing on young Japanese who went to the U.S. as students and participated in debate and oratorical education during this period, this essay will re-examine the history of the U.S.-Japan relationship in terms of academic debate and oratory. During this period, American …

Leveraging The Intersection Of Ai And Play To Foster Human Connectedness And Character Formation, Lori B. Doyle, Ashley Brandon

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

The benefits of fostering character formation are vast, encompassing psychological, social and emotional growth, yet there is no universally prescribed manner by which to proceed. Central to these efforts is human connectedness, which enhances psychological functioning and provides a pivotal foundation for well-being. Emerging factors such as integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the pedagogy of play are novel topics for the conversation within the character formation discourse. These elements, while tangentially related, hold significant potential to amplify character formation and sense of belonging. This paper examines the intersection of AI, pedagogy of play, and character formation through a theoretical …

A Changed And Changing World: Re/Considering Culturally Responsive Practices And Educational Policy, Linsay Demartino

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

The purpose of this commentary is to re/energize our social justice commitments in education by advancing the conscious consideration of critical educational policy to expand and sustain culturally responsive practices within educational practices and leadership. For purposes of this argument, the author examines the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBEs) Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards. Following the tracing of ISBEs CRTL standards, this article concludes with considerations for the authentic adoption of culturally responsive practices and policies in both districts and colleges of education to break from the past, reject “business as usual,” and re/envision authentic culturally responsive …

The Heart Of An Educator An Autoethnographic Study Of Homeschool Practices That Reflect Core Udl Principles, Kimberly Clinton

Dissertations

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework was at the heart of this study, which served as a critical lens for examining the instructional design practices embedded in the homeschool environment. Specifically, I examined how the three core tenets of UDL: representation, action and expression, and engagement were reflected within the Clinton Homeschool Instructional Learning Design (CHILD). The aim was to identify how homeschool instruction, as implemented by the researcher, parallels UDL principles in its responsiveness to learner variability, its emphasis on flexible instructional delivery, and its commitment to student-centered engagement. In contrast to the dominant educational paradigm, which often …

February 2026 Bulldog Alumni & Friends News, Kari Jones, Garrett King

Bulldog Alumni & Friends News

• SWOSU Sweethearts!

• SWOSU Athletic Association: February Suite Schedule

• SWOSU Near You: Tulsa

• February 19- 20 SWOSU Jazz Festival

• March 9-13 SWOSU Giving Week

• March 12 Bernhardt Reception

• March 27 SWOSU Palooza

• April 9-11 SWOSU College Rodeo

• April 17 North Family Lecture

• April 27 Everett Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic

• May 8 SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner

• May 9 Spring Commencement

Maintenance Mode For Digital Dwellers, Maci Morris

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In an ever-expanding digital landscape that operates on the commodification of user-generated materials, whether through direct or “dark pattern” extraction, it becomes vital for educators to employ digital practices that normalize critical reflection about the creation and storage of digital content. These practices should create better understanding of the underlying infrastructure of content management and storage.

This capstone project, “Maintenance Mode for Digital Dwellers,” is an adaptable pedagogical guide that instructors can use to engage learners in strategies and systems for managing their personal digital materials. Participants are encouraged to engage with their digital maintenance and archival practices through a …

Discussing The Student Athlete Experience At Catawba College, Troy Carlton

Colloquiums

Dr. Carlton invites the faculty to engage in a discussion centered around the student-athlete experience at Catawba College in his role as FAR, Faculty Athletic Representative.

Surviving Staten Island: Black Women’S Narratives Of Resilience, Motherwork, And Embodied Trauma, Jazmin Rivera

Student Theses

This oral history dissertation centers the experiences of six Black women who had formative experiences navigating hostile school and community-based settings on Staten Island during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Guided by a conceptual framework that draws on Black orality, Black feminist thought, and endarkened feminist epistemology, this study demonstrates how Black women were required to cross geographic and social boundaries to survive hostile conditions in Staten Island communities and schools. Findings from this study highlight Black women’s use of community cultural wealth to inform their survival strategies and resilience. At the same time, their experiences indicate the potential …

Transforming Dietetics Curriculum: A Culinary Nutrition Certificate Grounded In Competency-Based Innovation, Jennifer R. Watson, Rachel C. Sinley, Jangwoo Jo

Journal of Dietetic Education

Culinary nutrition has become a promising interdisciplinary field that combines culinary arts and nutritional science to enhance health outcomes through practical, food-based education. As the healthcare landscape increasingly emphasizes preventive care, dietitians are well-positioned to lead culinary nutrition initiatives; however, formal training opportunities remain scarce. To address this gap, Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) created a new Culinary Nutrition Certificate that combines experiential cooking coursework from the School of Hospitality with core nutrition education from the Department of Nutrition. This paper places the certificate within the broader context of culinary nutrition and dietetics education, emphasizing the importance of …

Emergent Methodologies: Quantum Qualitative Research, Nicole Weinberg, Gabriel Huddleston, Garrison Daly, Molly Weinburgh

The Qualitative Report

This methodology paper considers the prospects for quantizing qualitative inquiry in the context of equity and program evaluation. This paper first examines how quantum logics have been applied to the social sciences. Quantum logics refers to a set of generalizations, or rules, that embrace uncertainty and relationality, challenging the linear causality of traditional social science. Then, it reflects upon the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the local community as a site to reframe findings and methods through the lens of quantum logic. For example, schools may be understood as quantum systems, co-constituted and rhizomatic communities shaped by entanglement and …

Multimedia-Based Interventions To Improve Science Learning Outcomes For Deaf Students At Wangsel Institute For The Deaf., Cheten Tshering Mr., Tshering Wangchuk

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Efforts have been made to ensure inclusive learning opportunities for all students, including those from diverse backgrounds. One key strategy to enhance children’s learning and academic performance involves the thoughtful selection and application of instructional tools tailored to meet learners' specific needs. This study examines the impact of multimedia-based instruction on science achievement among deaf students at Wangsel Institute for the Deaf in Bhutan. Using a quasi-experimental design, the research compared pretest and post-test results between a control group and an experimental group. Data analysis included descriptive statistics (t-test) and ANCOVA. The findings indicated a statistically significant differences (p = …

Aligning Higher Education Preparation Programs With Workforce Needs: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Jeffrey M. Warren

Perspectives In Learning

While institutes of higher education are highly dynamic, academic programs and faculty within them often operate in an isolated, independent manner. As a result, the training they deliver can lack the interdisciplinary perspectives students need to navigate a diverse and evolving workforce successfully. This editorial explores the importance of interdisciplinary training and discusses the challenges college students who lack exposure to collaborative, integrative learning face as they transition to their respective professions. Finally, faculty are encouraged to consider strategies to enhance training in preparation programs and best position their graduates for success in interdisciplinary contexts.

Faith-Based Organizations In Foreign Aid (Forfa) Codebook, Susan Turner Haynes

Faculty Works

This codebook was designed to guide undergraduate students in coding the faith status of USAID Grant recipients and is being made available to facilitate further use in the classroom. Please contact the author for any inquiries ([email protected]).

Analysis Of Lake Toba Ecoliteracy In High School Students, Jesika Aurelia Sianipar, B Manurung, Martina Asiati Napitupulu, Abdul Hakim Daulae

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The Lake Toba ecosystem is currently experiencing increasingly worsening quality degradation, so that instilling environmental awareness through ecoliteracy has become urgent in the world of education. This study aims to measure the ecoliteracy abilities of students at High School 1 Ajibata and High School 2 Balige by reviewing three main aspects: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Additionally, it will analyze the differences in ecoliteracy levels between the two schools. The type of research used is ex post facto with a quantitative approach. Data were collected through test instruments for the cognitive aspect and questionnaires for the affective and behavioral aspects. The …

The Pedagogical Lineage Of The Kaplans And Its Future, Taylor Yeracaris

Journal of Math Circles

This article describes the origins of Bob and Ellen Kaplan's Math Circle, one of the first Math Circles in the U.S. It covers Bob and Ellen's personal histories and some of the wide-ranging impact of their work and philosophy of teaching. It also discusses how the current form of their organization, The Global Math Circle, is working to carry forward their legacy, including building community and supporting Math Circle leaders with the Nexus project.

The Impacts Of Experiential Learning On Moral Development, Jacob Tyler Greenfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Burnout remains a widely studied phenomenon in the healthcare literature, with much of the focus placed on reactive mitigation strategies that lack meaningful engagement with moral development. Healthcare education programs rarely incorporate formal learning experiences that promote moral development as a means of addressing burnout symptoms. This qualitative single case study examined how health professions students describe the impact of experiential learning on their moral development. Participants engaged in adapted photovoice methods, focus groups, and interviews to reflect on how serving as a Project MUSHROOM student leader influenced their morality. Four themes emerged: 1) recognizing bias and the need to …

Preparing Students For What Comes Next: A Qualitative Study Of District Approaches To Postsecondary And Career Readiness, Amanda C. Pelsor

Dissertations of Practice

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DISTRICT APPROACHES TO POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER READINESS

This qualitative study examines how Illinois school districts support students’ readiness for postsecondary success and career planning and exploration. Despite longstanding state and federal efforts to improve college and career readiness, many students continue to face challenges after high school, including lack of workforce readiness, underpreparedness for postsecondary education, unclear career pathways, and difficulty navigating complex transitions. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explores how districts conceptualize and implement career readiness frameworks, the ways readiness work is embedded within district systems, and the barriers …

2026 Intersession Catalog, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Intersession Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Homebound, Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Parent guide about homebound school services.

Homebound (Spanish), Children's Health School Services

School Guides

Parent guide about homebound school services. Translated into Spanish.

Balancing Beliefs In The Curriculum: Exploring The Educational Value And Constitutional Limits Of Teaching About Religion In U.S. Public Schools, Maria Rina Limbo

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

This thesis examines the educational value and constitutional limits of teaching about religion in U.S. public schools. It asks whether public schools may teach about religion academically without violating constitutional neutrality, where the boundary lies between education and indoctrination, and how religious literacy might be integrated in ways that benefit students while honoring First Amendment constraints. Using a mixed-methods design, the study gathered survey data from 104 adult participants drawn from diverse educational, religious, and community backgrounds across multiple states. Surveys were distributed primarily through mailed and hand-delivered print copies, with a small number completed electronically. Quantitative data were tabulated …

Meeting The Challenges Of Serving Scratch-Prepared Foods In School Nutrition Programs, Keith Rushing Phd, Rd, Ruaa Al Juboori Phd, Mackinsey Shahan Phd, Rdn

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

The increasing prevalence of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children’s diets presents a significant public health concern due to associations with obesity, metabolic disorders, poor cardiometabolic health, and reduced academic performance. Scratch cooking in school meal programs has emerged as a promising strategy for improving meal quality by emphasizing preparation from basic, minimally processed ingredients. Although research indicates that scratch-prepared meals can improve nutritional quality and student acceptance, implementation remains challenging due to operational, financial, and workforce barriers.

The purpose of this study was to identify challenges school nutrition professionals face when offering scratch-prepared meals, assess the national prevalence of these …

Winter 2026, Southwestern Oklahoma State University Office Of Institutional Advancement And Alumni

Echoes from the Hill

From The Interim President

Fellow members of the SWOSU Community,

I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve Southwestern Oklahoma State University for nearly three decades. As the Spring 2026 semester gets underway, we welcome the opportunity to pause and reflect on what we have learned—and what we continue to achieve together.

The bonds formed among our students, faculty, and staff as we deliver high quality, affordable programs of instruction and training are deep and enduring. The Southwestern Spirit—marked by friendly cooperation, thoughtful inquiry, and hard work—gives SWOSU a distinctive strength and instills in our graduates a lasting sense …

Spring/Summer 2026, Southwestern Oklahoma State University Office Of Institutional Advancement And Alumni

Echoes from the Hill

From The President

SWOSU Community,

SWOSU is 125 years old this year, and 2026 has been an exciting year here on the Hilltop! We are gearing up for a great Fall Semester!

This issue of Echoes highlights the wonderful time we had in the Spring when our students, faculty, and staff joined donors, alumni, dignitaries, and community leaders from throughout Oklahoma and beyond for the dedication of the Jerry & Margaret Hodge Center for Pharmacy & Rural Health. The Center represents an innovative private-public partnership that will enable our university to graduate more healthcare professionals to meet the workforce needs …

Why Stay? A Qualitative Case Study Of Parents Who Choose Local Public Schools Over Alternative Options, Michael Antonio Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Public schools face challenges that directly impact the quality of education and educational programming. Declining student enrollment trends affect school funding and resource allocation for school improvement. This qualitative case study identified key factors influencing parents' perceptions of school quality and explored how these perceptions shaped school choice decision-making. Guided by Rational Choice Theory, the study examined how individuals make enrollment decisions by weighing perceived costs, benefits, constraints, and available resources to achieve desired educational outcomes. Semi-structured interviews, an open-ended survey, and archival school performance data were used to explore the perspectives of parents with children enrolled in public high …

The Effect Of Occupational Roles, Burnout, And Efficacy On Job Satisfaction Among K-12 Teachers, Chloe Schwahn

Masters Theses

The aim of this study was to investigate variables that may impact the ratings of job satisfaction by practicing Illinois K-12 teachers specifically examining if the variables of occupational roles, burnout, efficacy, and other relevant covariates are correlated and/or have predictive utility on teacher job satisfaction. A secondary goal was to raise awareness about the stressors teachers face in their work environments. Survey materials included a demographics questionnaire, an occupational roles catalog, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, the Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale, and the Teacher Job Satisfaction Scale. Seventy-six practicing Illinois K-12 teachers completed the study. Results of the current …

Legal Professional Identity Development: An Exploration Of The Social And Emotional Processes By Which Law Students Transition From Novices To Professionals, David Hall Abney Ii

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation seeks to heed the call for expansion of instructional communication research (ICR) beyond the undergraduate classroom and undergraduate learning objectives by exploring older learners and higher-order affective learning objectives. Legal professional identity development (LPID) is a discipline-specific type of higher-order affective learning that is conceptualized as a continuous nonlinear process that begins in law school and extends throughout a lawyer’s career, involving the internalization of the legal profession’s core values and norms and their integration with an evolving identity. Using a pragmatic ICR approach and a mixed-methods design, Phase 1 employed individual interviews and focus groups to investigate …

Listening In Lectures Self-Assessment, David Keck

A. Listening in Class and in Professional Settings

A handout designed to help students assess -- and ultimately improve -- their listening habits in the classroom. Sections include Preparing for Class; Mindset; Relationship with the Instructor; Relationship with Fellow Students; During Class; and After Class.