Education Commons^™

Differential Effects Of Physical Activity On Social Interactions Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Christianna Blanchard-Alworth

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience challenges with communication, social interaction, and motor skills, which can contribute to social isolation. A growing body of research suggests physical activity (PA) may improve social, physical fitness, and gross motor outcomes for adolescents with ASD. Although exercise and PA have been identified as an evidence-based practice (EBP) for this population, limited research has specifically examined the relationship between PA and social interactions. This study used an alternating treatment design, replicated across four adolescents with ASD, to compare the effects of two interventions – soccer instruction and fitness instruction - on social …

Navigating Identity And Belonging: Itinerant Teachers Of The Deaf/Hard Of Hearing And The Blind/Visually Impaired As Structural Hole Spanners In Educational Ecosystems, Rj Horstmyer

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Itinerant Teachers of the Blind/Visually Impaired are highly specialized teachers and service providers who provide services to students who make up less than two percent of all students eligible for special education services and subsequently experience high levels of mobility between many schools. This study unearths the lived experiences of IToDs and ITVIs and examines how their itinerancy and ecological factors shape their identity and organizational belonging within and between multiple social networks. Participants were those currently employed as either Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing or Itinerant Teachers of the …

Old Dominion University Libraries - Strategic Planning Implementation Progress Report August 1, 2024, Timothy Hackman

Libraries Reports and Documents

The ODU Libraries released its 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, Forward-Focused Together, in January 2024. Twice annually we compile reports to keep our community informed of our progress.

Cultivating Cross-Cultural Connections Through Language Learning Circles In Early Childhood Programs, Joy Lee Hernandez, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Spanish is the second most common language among US children aged 5–17, with 26.8% speaking it at home. To foster cultural understanding and promote positive relationships, it's crucial to introduce young children to different languages and cultures. Preschool language education can cultivate respect and empathy, building more inclusive communities. Culturally responsive education equips children with skills to value diversity, creating a harmonious cultural climate. This article highlights the importance of learning another language (e.g., Spanish) and introduces Language Learning Circles (LCC) for preschoolers. Research indicates ages 3–6 are optimal for language acquisition, emphasizing the need for early exposure to enhance …

Career Pathways Program Annual Report For Ay 2023/24, Wie Yusuf

Career Pathways

Career Pathways was launched in August 2017 as the university-wide initiative to provide professional development to graduate students. It encompasses the Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) and the Preparing Future Professionals (PFP) Certificates. The Career Pathways program prepares graduate students for successful transition into thriving careers by serving as a gateway to resources, programs, events, and planning tools for ODU graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. With the increased emphasis on recruiting and supporting post-doctoral scholars at ODU, Career Pathways has also focused on connecting post-doctoral scholars with the program and supplementing their training with career development programming.

For AY 2023/24, Career …

The Shared Experiences Of Novice, Full-Time Allied Dental Community College Educators, Misty L. Mesimer

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

A well-prepared oral healthcare workforce is essential to the overall health of the general population. A knowledgeable and qualified workforce would be non-existent without strong academic programs and faculty to prepare oral health professionals. For over 20 years, the dental and allied dental educator workforce has been a concern for the oral health professions. Since most allied dental education programs are based in community and technical colleges, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the transition experiences of faculty teaching at these institutions. It is only through application and use of this knowledge that these faculty can be recruited, supported, and …

Transforming School Leadership: An Examination Of The Impetus And Evolution Of An Internal District Principal Preparation Program, Whitney Szoke

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

School districts, faced with increasing shortages in the education profession, are leveraging internal district strategies to recruit and grow their educators. In addition to preparing and credentialing new educators, districts are turning inward to cultivate their leadership pipeline. This case study explores a post-credential inner-district principal preparation program in a large school district in the Mid-Atlantic region. Participants were central office leaders involved in creating and developing the program. This study's findings reveal insights into the creation and development of an inner-district principal preparation program and how initiatives are shaped and influenced during the development phase. Central office leaders were …

What's The Cost?: A Phenomenological Study Of Black Male Teachers' Persistence, Kendra Yvonne Hall

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Black male teachers comprise 2% of the teacher population in the United States. In light of this disparity, there is a need to diversify the teacher workforce by recruiting and retaining Black male teachers. Black teachers are influential in students’ academic performance and personal growth. Without their presence, we are missing a key demographic and a key part of a student's educational experience. While Black male teachers’ experiences have been studied, we are less clear on the motivational processes behind their decision to teach. Therefore, this qualitative study takes a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of Black male …

An Examination Of The Perceptions Of Campus Safety Among Full-Time Faculty At Virginia Community Colleges, Hailey Ann Hermosa

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

The view that colleges are generally safe has been challenged by threats of violence on campuses across the country, causing fear among stakeholders. Community college faculty are not immune to crime-related fear on campus; however, the research has largely ignored this population. This research serves to fill that gap.

The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to examine perceptions of campus safety among full-time faculty at Virginia community colleges. An electronic Likert-type scale survey was disseminated to a sample of 472 full-time faculty throughout seven Virginia community colleges of varying sizes. Of those, 135 (28.7%) voluntarily participated in the …

Community College Student Affairs Professionals’ Perceptions Of Their Supervisor’S Authentic Leadership: The Influence On Job Satisfaction And Organizational Commitment, Brent Lamar Via

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Employee retention is an ongoing challenge for higher education student affairs professionals, who account for the largest employee group across the higher education workforce. Job satisfaction and organizational commitment have previously been identified as correlated with college and university employees’ decision to stay or vacate their position. Authentic leadership, an evolving theory, has been associated with greater levels of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in a variety of settings. However, there is a gap in the literature about the status of this relationship within community college student affairs work environments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship …

Navigating Foreign Language Anxiety In Saudi Classrooms: Examining Classroom Environment, Teacher Strategies, And Learner Perspectives, Amal Obaid Alnefaie

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates foreign language anxiety (FLA) in the context of Saudi Arabian classrooms, focusing on perceptions from both teachers and students. The research aims to identify factors influencing FLA, examine classroom environments, and offer insights to enhance foreign language teaching and learning in Saudi Arabia. Using a survey-based approach, data were collected through Likert-type scales and open-ended questions to explore FLA across various dimensions.

Section 1 analyzed Likert-scale responses, revealing diverse levels of FLA among participants, with students often expressing neutral to disagreeing attitudes towards statements reflecting anxiety about language learning and classroom participation. Section 2 explored sociocultural factors …

A Study Of Learnability In Software As Perceived By Practitioners In User Experience And Learning Design Professions, Courtney N. Miller

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

In the technology space, there are many factors that contribute to the marketability of software, including pricing and overall usefulness of the product (Jayathilaka, 2021). Many factors contribute to how usable a software is, including satisfaction, error prevention, memorability, efficiency, and learnability (Nielsen, 1994b). Learnability is one factor that may be affected or addressed by both user experience (UX) and learning design (LD) professional groups. While both fields address learnability, very few studies have been conducted to look at the UX interpretation of learnability as it relates to the LD interpretation (Elliott et al., 2002; Li et al., 2023). This …

Examining The Physical Activity Experiences Of Blind And Visually Impaired Women, Lindsay E. Ball

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Substantial research has indicated that blind and visually impaired adults often do not meet physical activity guidelines, and therefore, are not experiencing the numerous affordances of physical activity participation. However, those who report meeting physical activity guidelines express higher rates of health-related quality of life. Largely, the research examining the physical activity behaviors and perspectives of blind and visually impaired adults have been survey studies leaving a rich description of their physical activity experiences unexplored. The overall aim of this project was to engage with blind or visually impaired women to understand their experiences accessing and participating in physical activity, …

Decriminalizing Academia: Black First-Generation Community College Students In Unsatisfactory Academic Standing, Gerome Maurice Bell, Jr.

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Community colleges serve as critical access points to higher education for Black students. However, current outcomes suggest that Black students are not being properly served in America’s community colleges. Although well-meaning institutional leaders often create policies and programs aimed at improving success rates for students from marginalized backgrounds, too often, the voices of those directly impacted by the policy are not considered. Consequently, little is known about the lived experiences of Black first-generation community college students, especially those in unsatisfactory academic standing. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Black first-generation students on …

A Comparison Of Specialized And General Orientation Courses For Community College Students, Heather R. Sorrell

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effect of specialized orientation courses on community college student academic achievement and retention. The study utilized a quantitative design and compared the outcomes of specialized orientation courses to a more generalized orientation course. Due to the lack of previous research, there was little to suggest either a positive or a negative influence on student success measures for a targeted, specialized version of orientation courses. The study found that achievement outcomes did not differ between specialized orientation courses and general orientation courses. The study did find retention differences based on the type of orientation course completed. Students …

Work-Life Balance Fantasy Logics Of Mothers Working In Community Colleges: A Glitch Methodology Using Intimate Inquiry And Aesthetic Mediation, Emily Hanson Moore

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

This post-qualitative study explores work-life balance as a sustaining fantasy produced by neoliberal, patriarchal, productivity-driven systems and how this fantasy manifests affectively for mothers who work in community colleges. The study began by contextualizing the work-life balance fantasy within higher education as a gendered workscape. Using intimate inquiry (Laura, 2013) and aesthetic meditation as the primary approaches, the researcher engaged in conversations with participants about their experiences mothering and working in community colleges. The primary data sources were these conversations, participant artifacts, researcher self-reflection and artifacts, and a range of contemporary cultural texts including podcasts, poetry, television, social media posts …

An Exploratory Study On E-Learning Software Utilization Among Professional Instructional Designers In Virginia, Mark Richard Parsons

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

This master's thesis aims to explore the diverse landscape of e-learning software employed by professional instructional designers in Virginia to develop educational content. The study investigated the learning management systems and rapid authoring software, their utilization, the challenges and benefits associated with their usage, and future trends. By gaining insights into the preferences and practices of instructional designers, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic field of e-learning software in the context of Virginia's educational landscape.

A Review Of Secondary Technology Education Teacher Needs In Virginia, M. Kathleen Ferguson

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Technology education teachers can have varied pre-service training experiences, thus their needs for classroom support may vary greatly. Perkins V requires evidence-based research to justify the use of funding for professional development. This researcher sought to support Virginia’s secondary technology education teachers, professional organizations, and the Virginia Department of Education’s Technology Education Specialist by providing research to determine professional development needs. This three-phase qualitative study used a survey, documents review, and focus groups to triangulate data to provide information about the research questions. The research questions focused on teachers’ educational background, technology program goals, and issues specific to secondary technology …

Code-Switching In The Second Language Classroom: A Narrative Study Of A Saudi English Language Teacher’S Experience, Amal Alnefaie, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This narrative study explores the use of code-switching in the second-language classroom from the perspective of a Saudi English language instructor. The aim was to explore how the instructor experienced code-switching as a student and used it in her teaching. The main research question guiding the study was: How does a Saudi English language teacher perceive and utilize code-switching in her teaching practice, and how does this relate to her experiences as a language learner? The study holds significance in contributing to the ongoing discourse on code-switching in second-language classrooms, providing a nuanced understanding from the perspective of an individual …

What Students Have To Say On Data Privacy For Educational Technology, Stephanie Choi

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

The literature on data privacy in terms of educational technology is a growing area of study. The perspective of educators has been captured extensively. However, the literature on students’ perspectives is missing, which is what we explore in this paper. We use a pragmatic qualitative approach with an experiential lens to capture students’ attitudes towards data privacy in terms of educational technology. We identified preliminary, common themes that appeared in the survey responses. The paper concludes by calling for more research on how students perceive data privacy in terms of educational technology.

The Security Of Deep Neural Networks, Jalaya Allen

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

Our society has transitioned from our primitive lifestyle to soon, an increasingly automatic one. That idea is further exemplified as we shift into an AI era, better known as Artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is classified as computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. However, a common thought or question that most might have is, how is this done? How does AI process information the way we want it to and have access to so much information? AI is trained by systems called AI models. These modeling programs are trained on data to recognize patterns or make …

Analyzing The Role Of Cybersecurity In Correctional Facilities, Jaysia I. Leeheung

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

In recent years, the use of technology has evolved in correctional facilities which may result in more vulnerabilities in correctional facilities systems. This study analyzes the types of security measures used in correctional facilities to stop cyber attacks such as firewalls, artificial intelligence, and facial recognition systems. The analysis also examines new challenges correctional facilities may face in cyber security and prevention strategies that will enhance cyber protection in correctional facilities. Additionally, this analysis compares the implementation of cyber security methods between jails and prisons.

Chapter 10: Increasing Accessibility In Educational Simulations, Meaghan Mcleod

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

Simulations are an important aspect of education and training. They provide the learner with situations that mirror real life situations or provide access to unobservable phenomena. The simulations provide the learner with a unique opportunity to master skills through the use of and practice in a safe environment. However, many simulations are not designed with accessibility and accommodations in mind. This chapter provides a general overview of simulations and provides suggestions on how to increase accessibility and enhance the learning experience for all learners.

Chapter 06. Instructional Message Design For Adult Learners, Pamela J. Smith-Downing

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

As stated in Chapter 1, message design is all around us, from the presentations we see in meetings and classes, to the instructions that come with our latest tech gadgets, to multi-million-dollar training simulations. The instructional message design field of study pulls from many applied sciences, including cognitive psychology, industrial design, graphic design, instructional design, information technology, and human performance technology, to name just a few. In this chapter, we will visit several adult learning theories and examples that guide our research into adult learning, look at different real-world instructional message designs for adult learners, and discuss directions for future …

Chapter 02: Multimedia Learning Theory And Instructional Message Design, Miguel Ramlatchan

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

Multimedia learning theory describes how the designers of instructional messages, systems and learning environments can optimize learning. The principles and heuristics of multimedia learning theory have application in traditional and online environments, with young and adult learners, in K-12, higher education, military, corporate, government, and informal learning environments. This diversity of application is based on the foundational premise that all learners can independently process auditory and visual information, have limited working memory resources, and require cognitive resources to process new information and to learn. This chapter describes the basic tenets of multimedia learning theory, best practices that can improve our …

Chapter 09: Web Conferencing Best Practices For Online K-12 Teachers, Mitch A. Cumings

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

Web conferencing - the ability to hold live meetings from a distance through an online platform - has become an integral instructional tool to make learning more accessible and flexible. Although these technologies have been accessible for decades and utilized in both professional and institutional settings with degrees of regularity, they only arrived at a large scale onto the K-12 primary and secondary education scene out of necessity as prompted by the COVID pandemic. K-12 education systems had a crash course in web conferencing through the pandemic, and its value as a meaningful instructional tool persists.

Chapter 04: Cultural Sensitivity, Inclusion, And Social Presence In Instructional Message Design, Cheryl Cook-Posley

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

It is critical for Instructional Designers (IDs) and Human Performance Technologists (HPTs) to consider the backgrounds of the learner to help them plan, develop, and design relevant and appropriate content for the audience of focus. The interests, assets, and needs of the learner must be researched and studied so the designer is able to fully know, empathize, understand, and design. Applying an audience centric approach equips designers to design culturally inclusive and sensitive instructional messages, as well as content that aligns with, are responsive to, and are respectful of diverse groups. In this way, IDs and HPTs can be able …

Chapter 07: What Can Instructional Designers Learn From Graphic Designers?, Mark Richard Parsons

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

Instructional message design uses learning theories to effectively communicate information using technology. The instructional designer identifies the main objectives and skills to be learned to devise and deliver a strategy for the learner. The graphic designer plays a role by helping guide the learner through the material without distraction. Graphic design plays a vital role with visual learners. Using instructional and graphic design principles is important for effective instructional message design. This chapter looks at the importance of graphic design in the instructional design process. It will explore what skills and strategies instructional designers can utilize from a graphic design …

Chapter 08: Add Depth To Your Message - The Use Of 3d Printing In Instructional Message Design, Jennifer Tolley

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

3D printing is an emerging technology used for the creation of physical objects. While it does not seem like a tool for instructional message design, 3D printing facilitates the development of many skills, such as creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving, as well as the development of content knowledge. It allows students to design and create real objects, or for teachers to show recreations of items from history. Tools, such as math manipulatives, can be designed and printed to help students learn abstract concepts. This chapter aims to provide a conceptual framework for 3D printing integration into instructional message design, …

Chapter 05: Message Design: How To Communicate Visual Information To Learners Who Are Visually Impaired, Meaghan Mcleod

Instructional Message Design, Volume 3

Message design consists of signs and symbols that play a crucial role in guiding our daily lives. text, images, videos, graphics, and diagrams are essential tools for communication and education. However, individuals with visual impairments are not able to fully access this visual content that plays such a critical part of our daily lives. Therefore, there is a need to create educational material that can be accessed by all learners including those with visual impairments. This chapter explores practical strategies that instructional designers, teachers, professors, and instructors can use to provide an inclusive learning experience for learners with visual impairments. …