Education Commons^™

Educator Well-Being In A System That Is Unwell, Beth A. Wylie

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The present-day educational system in the United States faces numerous stressors. During the global pandemic, educators provided crucial support for families and students while they simultaneously figured out how to teach in a virtual learning environment. In subsequent years, the impacts of school closures have persisted, challenging educators to meet the unique needs of their school communities. With teachers leaving the profession and an overall difficulty in hiring and maintaining an educational workforce, this study aims to better understand educator well-being to support transformative change within the PK-12 school system. The phenomenon of well-being was explored with participants from a …

Experience Of Early Educators Currently Enrolled In The North Coast Teacher Induction Program: A Case Study, Melissa Hodgson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The teacher induction program is a 2-year program designed to support new teachers in their first two years of teaching. The program was created to provide job-embedded support to set teaching goals, attend professional learning to increase understanding of the California standards for the Teaching Profession, and provide teacher mentor support. In more recent years with the decline in enrollment of teacher preparation programs, teachers leaving the profession, and teachers retiring, there has been a great need for training and retaining highly qualified teachers. Higher turnover among underprepared teachers in California, are seeing close to 40% of new teachers hired …

Effects Of Exergaming On Health And Fitness Outcomes For Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis, Jordan Mauch

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While research on VR gaming and Exergaming is in its infancy, both are interventions that have demonstrated positive results such as promoting physical activity participation and positive attitudes towards physical activity in children and adolescents. Exergaming has also been shown to be effective in increasing physical activity in children, and children with disabilities may find exergaming to be an enjoyable alternative to traditional physical activity due to increased accessibility and the focus on both gross and fine motor skills. In studies of VR and/or exergaming with participants with cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder, researchers reported increases in motor function …

Effectiveness Of An Inclusive, Small-Group Adapted Aquatics Program On Increasing Vo2max In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Peggy Manuelita Scarborough

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There is a need to examine the effectiveness of interventions, such as swimming, that are aimed at increasing physical health and developing psychomotor skills in an inclusive setting for children with ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an inclusive, small-group adapted aquatics program on increasing VO₂max in children with ASD. Participants included two 11-year-old children diagnosed with ASD. The study took place over eight weeks and included a six-week Small-Group Adapted Aquatics (SGAA) program. Participants were assessed for VO₂max using the 20m PACER test during week one and week eight …

Beyond The Classroom: A Land-Based Approach To Outdoor Education, Jacquelyn R. Matthews

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This pilot project seeks to nurture space for Indigenous perspectives while equipping early childhood educators with tools for integrating diverse epistemology into outdoor learning practices to foster collaborative educational approaches. To align with this effort of shared knowledge, the project intends to offer a culturally sustaining educational tool that can help disrupt dominant approaches by evaluating alternative teaching strategies that center partnerships with local Indigenous communities to move toward equity-centered education. This can be achieved by modeling a resource guide after the theoretical underpinnings of Etuaptmumk Two-Eyed Seeing, and land-based pedagogy. A major component of this resource guide will include …

How Influential Is Petro-Pedagogy On Federal Educational Guidelines?, Cherrie Amor Chavez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Petro-pedagogy highlights the pervasive influence of the fossil fuel industry within educational frameworks. This phenomenon operates subtly, manifesting in educational content's biases, omissions, and prioritizations. Focused on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this research employs Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to scrutinize educational directives through a Petro-pedagogical lens. The study aims to unveil the language, power dynamics, and ideological constructs perpetuating fossil-fuel narratives within educational discourse through this lens. The study's significance lies in revealing concealed power structures within environmental and climate change education. The study uses critical discourse analysis to reveal pervasive …

The Effects Of Physical Education On Social Outcomes In Children With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis, Alyette J. Afont

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Social outcomes are the foundation of human relationships and many children with disabilities may display deficits in the necessary behaviors to form those connections. Previous literature shows that physical activity can be an effective intervention for children with disabilities to promote social outcomes through the three domains of learning – cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to collect, index, and evaluate the available literature exploring how a physical education program can impact social outcomes in children with disabilities. By composing articles pertaining to social outcomes and physical education through multiple databases, researchers will be able to …

Impact Of Career And Technical Education On Student Lives, Jennifer L. Burtram

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The traditional high school experience in the United States continues to adapt to meet the diverse needs of students. There are now a wide range of avenues to earning high school credit including online learning, hybrid classes, flipped classrooms, early college pathways, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) models, and others. The shared goals and expectations of these various approaches to high school learning are designed for students to complete their state’s graduation requirements to earn a high school diploma while also preparing them for life after high school. Career and technical education (CTE) is another approach that is attempting …

Schumaker Acres Equine Assisted Learning Curriculum: Building Social Emotional Learning Skills For Autistic Individuals, Sara M. Trent

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Autistic students often receive educational services supporting the development of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. SEL can also be taught effectively outside of the classroom through the use of animal assisted interventions. The purpose of this project was to develop an eight week SEL program utilizing Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) for Autistic individuals five to 21 years old. This curriculum offers a unique programming plan as it provides an SEL curriculum that is specifically designed for Autistic individuals.

Teaching Dystopia In Dystopian Realities: Trauma-Informed Pedagogy And The Dystopian Novel After Covid-19, Emily Rose Lavrador

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project advocates for a trauma-informed approach when teaching dystopian literature, particularly those with plague or pandemic plots. To have a truly student-centered approach in the classroom, trauma-informed pedagogy is necessary for students not only to learn comfortably, but to actively be creative or retain information.

Dystopian literature is assigned and consumed at pervasive rates; this popularity calls for additional attention to its teaching. The survey data presented in this project shows that 68 of 100 students had been assigned one or more dystopian texts through school years 2020 onwards, and 72 additionally were seeking out the dystopian genre on …

The Effect Of Brain Breaks On Student Academic Performance And Behaviors In The K-12 School Setting; A Meta-Analysis, Jesse Singh

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to examine the effect of brain breaks on academic performance and in-class behaviors in the K-12 educational setting. Also, to conduct subgroup (moderator) analyzes to determine if Brain Breaks were more effective for specific (school and student) population characteristics. Standard meta-analytical procedures were used to determine inclusion criteria, article searches in electronic databases, coding procedures, and statistical methods to synthesize data. Moderator and outcome variables were assessed using coding procedures to understand if Brain Breaks were effective or not. The brain break interventions researched in this study have shown to produce variable results in …

Increasing The Duration Of Treadmill Walking To Reach Moderate Intensity Levels For 2 Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Nicholas Velazquez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study aims to increase the duration of treadmill walking to reach moderate intensity levels for 2 students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The researcher incorporated a token-economy board that was used to indicate total time walking and walking goals. A single case changing-criterion design was used in this study and consisted of a baseline, multiple sub-criteria intervention phase, and a follow-up phase. Results showed that there was a positive relationship between the intervention and the total walking time for each participant. Each participant met the criterion for each phase, eventually leading to meeting their overall goal for the study. …

Impact Of Self Determination Theory Amongst Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Physical Activity: Modifying A Survey, Ruben Guillermo Diaz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Prior research has expressed concern for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who may be at risk regarding exercise and physical activity due to lack of interest, delays in motor skill development, and/or social impairment. Self Determination theory (SDT) has been suggested as an effective approach for supporting individuals with ASD across a variety of domains. SDT expresses that with the satisfaction of three fundamental psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness), higher levels of intrinsic motivation will develop which will lead to enhanced development and well-being. While SDT is an effective approach to promoting motivation, it has been suggested that …

Self-Determination Theory And Exercise Performance For Individuals With Autism., Martin Calderon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) tend to demonstrate low levels of physical activity and exercise when compared to their developing peers. Low physical activity levels are associated with multiple factors, including lack of understanding of how to perform exercise movements and low intrinsic motivation. Token economy reward systems have shown to be practical in behavior analysis for changing behaviors however, there is limited research on the effects of token economy reward systems in an exercise setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a token economy board combined with self-determination theory (SDT) on the exercise …

The Impact Of A Teacher-Developed Physical Fitness Program On The Self-Perception And Basketball Skills Of Two High School Students, Melaina Valdez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

PURPOSE: This study has two purposes: (a) to determine the effect of a teacher-developed physical fitness program on the performance of specific participant goals for the game of basketball and (b) to determine the impact of this same program on the overall perception of the participants amongst their peers when participating in the game of basketball. METHODS: The participants in this study included two high school males. Participant 1 had a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was provided services through a 504 plan. This study occurred over a 5-week period, including a 5-week intervention, with the pre …

“There's Always People In The Room For Whom This Is Not Merely Theory”: Emergent Pedagogies, Casey Mccullough

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Colleges and universities are generally regarded as a place for students to expand their skill sets and knowledge in preparation for specific fields of work. Many academic institutions and disciplines are also focused on recruiting and retaining students from socially marginalized communities in the name of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Despite this, some institutions in practice prioritize image, status, and wealth while deprioritizing resources, care, and support for students and their learning conditions. Often within these institutions are educators who challenge these systems in their courses, on campus, and across the country, encouraging and empowering students to directly confront those …

I’M Not A Tragedy: Speaking Up About Ableist Microaggressions, Kasandra Marguerite Colwell

Communication Senior Capstones

Have you heard of ableist microaggressions? Let me tell you about them, as someone who has experienced them. I have a bi-lateral dislocating knee condition that I was born with. I can walk, but sometimes I need additional stability or reduction of pain while getting around, in which case I tend to use a cane. I have had many othering interactions while using a mobility aid in public, whether that be a knee brace, a cane, or crutches. While it often seemed the stranger didn’t mean any harm, the question is how many invasive questions and comments from strangers can …

Evaluating The Impact Of Video Based Instruction And Immediate Feedback On The Performance Of Three Gross Motor Skills For Participants With Down Syndrome, Alyssa Gadberry

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of video based instruction combined with immediate visual feedback on the performance of three different gross motor skills for children with Down Syndrome (DS). The participants in this study are two children with DS. They were selected for this study based upon these qualifying factors: enrolled in a moderate/severe special day class, enrolled in a title one school, have Down syndrome and displayed deficits in gross motor abilities based upon the administration of the Total Gross Motor Development-3 (TGMD-3) assessment. The research design is a multiple baseline design where three …

A Guidebook For Adapted Physical Educators: Connecting The Domains Of Learning To Evidence-Based Practices, Kalyn G. Ruland

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

I created a guidebook for Adapted Physical Educators (APE) as a resource on how they can use Evidence-Based Practices (EBP's) created by The National Professional Development Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC on ASD) to meet the Domains of Learning. The goal for this guidebook was to help bridge the gap between educational research and practice in the classroom. EBP’s are a form of research based interventions that are made easily accessible for busy educators. The main audience for the guidebook is Adapted Physical Education Teachers, with a secondary audience of Special Education and general education teachers. This guidebook was …

Retention And Performance During Covid-19: Prosociality Perception, Social Isolation, And Online Engagement, Ashli L M Schick

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The experiences of university students impacted by COVID-19 and circumstances surrounding their experiences, help inform the future of higher education in the United States. In the uncertain and rapidly evolving higher education system, understanding retention patterns of students has become increasingly complex. This study examined how self-perceived prosociality and self-perceived social isolation among university students in an online education environment relate to the intention to re-enroll in university and their academic achievement (Grade Point Average; GPA). Ninety-seven university and community college students completed an online survey. Based on previous literature, we expected women to report higher prosociality perceptions than men …

Restorative Practices In Education: A Case Study, Emily Morris

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Literature shows that restorative justice practices, over time, are an effective practice for reducing negative student behaviors. This study will examine teacher and staff viewpoints on restorative practices and how they are being implemented on our campus. Additionally, this study will explore what impact restorative practices have on our campus, according to teachers and staff. My goal is to answer some of the questions that were unanswered through the literature. For instance, do the restorative justice consequences have a positive impact on student behavior? Do the staff feel that the current system, which uses restorative practices, is effective in dealing …

The Effect Of Brain Breaks On Student Outcomes Of School-Aged Children In K-12 Classrooms: A Meta-Analysis, Teron H. Schaeffer

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

BACKGROUND: Integrated physical activity in the classroom has been shown to affect K-12 students’ development positively. Students of all abilities benefit from multimodality learning. PURPOSE: This study investigates the relationship between classroom brain breaks and school-aged students' classroom behaviors. METHODS: The Meta-analysis search process consisted of 3 Phases: (1) Screen the titles, (2) Screen the abstracts, and (3) Retrieve the Full Text. Literature searches were conducted in eight electronic academic journal databases: SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Cochrane Database, Web of Science/Web of Knowledge, ProQuest, Child Development and Adolescent Studies, and ERIC. Students (N) are enrolled in schools serving students from kindergarten …

Why Do People Donate? Motivation Of Major Donors In Higher Education, Karin Hsuan Chao-Bushoven

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Higher education has relied on private philanthropy since the establishment of the first universities in the U.S. This reliance has increased over the decades as a result of rising costs and decreased government investment. As such, it has become more critical to better understand what factors motivate philanthropists to increase their support of higher education; including direct support for teaching and research and increasing financial support for those students otherwise not able to pursue secondary education. However, much of the existing data focuses only on point-of-philanthropic-act, and neglects to examine motivational factors of long-term donors that have progressively increased their …

A Study On Family Engagement And Covid-19 Experiences At The Hsu Children's Center, Elizabeth Rice

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study surveyed the diverse families at the HSU Children’s Center who have children ranging in age from infancy to preschool. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the way the Children’s Center operates has changed in profound ways. The families are no longer able to enter the classrooms to drop off or pick up their children, thereby limiting the daily communication and interactions with staff on how their children are doing. Families opportunities to engage and interact with other families has also been altered, resulting in a sense of loss of community and support among parents.

The purpose of this study was …

May All Teachers Be Happy: A Mindfulness Manual For School Staff, Laura Ella Ashley

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

There are many teachers who leave the profession early due to burnout; furthermore, there are many requirements for teachers to support the social emotional wellness of their students. With training provided to teachers as to how to help students as the norm, and no support for helping the teachers who are burnt out, this project aims to bridge this gap. After facilitating and surveying participants in a mindfulness staff group, the results of this study clearly show that teacher well-being can be supported, and enhanced, with a simple mindfulness support group provided on site to school staff.

Parents And Children’S Perceptions Of Their Gross Motor Abilities And Physical Activity Levels, Hailee D. Schmidt

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As children move through adolescence their level of physical activity declines. Researchers have demonstrated that physically inactive children perform worse in school and are more likely to be inactive in the future while also increasing their risk for future health problems as adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if parent perceptions of their child's gross motor skill abilities were similar to their child’s enjoyment of performing (GMS). The primary author hypothesized that parents' perceptions would impact their child’s enjoyment to perform GMS and that parents who believed their child demonstrated high levels of gross motor competence would …

Write Yourself Awake: The Double Pursuit Of Mindfulness Meditation And Writing, Alysia M. Hegg

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Contemplative pedagogy involves teaching methods designed to cultivate deepened awareness, concentration, and insight. Contemplative practices work to undo the Cartesian mind–body dualism that says that mental phenomena are non-physical, or that the mind and body are distinct and separable. This project focuses on an understanding that our internal world includes communication with one’s self, acts of imagination and visualization, and recall and memory. These internal experiences foster many things, such as compassion and kindness, as well as resilience and sustainability through connection.

“McMindfulness” is a term that refers to when mindfulness is used for self-serving and ego-enhancing purposes. Symptoms of …

Multimodality In Focus, Jonathan Abidari

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This project investigates how multimodality is taught and learned in the context of two sections of accelerated first-year composition (English 104) at Humboldt State University. The project sought to ascertain whether multimodality should be included as a learning outcome for the Composition and Rhetoric program by examining the reflective writing of students in both class sections and interviewing both instructors. The reflective writing and interview responses were then coded with responses being sorted into categories corresponding to the writing knowledge concepts that the students and teachers discussed. Those categories included genre, rhetoric, discourse, literacy, and multimodality. Once sorted, the coded …

Integrated Curriculum In Physical Education, Delaney M. Rice

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This paper seeks to address an absence of resources for teachers that highlight cross-curricular integration of physical education and core academics to benefit the learning, motivation, health, and academic outcomes of students. Curricular integration, or the highlighting of overlapping themes between subjects, has become a popular way to maximize educational time in schools. The benefits of curricular integration are well documented, however, less known are the benefits of curricular integration in the fields of physical education and special education. By analyzing existing literature, reviewing existing curricula and educational resources, and surveying educational professionals, a guide was created to support teachers …

Beyond Care And Order In School Climate: A Qualitative Study Of Defender And Outsider Cognitions In Bullying Situations, William S. Richards Iv

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This study examined the cognitions of students who intervene or do not intervene when they witness bullying incidents along with the ways that these cognitions may relate to these students’ perceptions of school climate at a small, rural high school in Northern California. Because increasing the frequency of bystander intervention has been found in prior studies to decrease bullying, this study illuminates the cognitive processes that support agency to intervene in bullying and distinguish them from cognitive processes that reduce agency to intervene. This study also identifies possible links between the ways students perceive school climate and their agency to …