Faculty Motivation For Online Teaching And Learning, Elizabeth Sachiko Haas Greene

Dissertations

The study will examine which factors predict faculty motivation in online learning. Additionally, the study will investigate the relationship between faculty perceptions of online learning and overall online teaching and learning and the relationships that exist between perceptions of administrative support and self-efficacy for online learning. The study's findings will provide insight into how institutions can support faculty teaching in the growing online modality. The overarching method for this study is a nonexperimental quantitative study. This method will collect numerical data that can be used to measure various aspects of behavior, including attitudes (Drew et al., 2014). The study's participants …

Social Determinants Of Mental Health Outcomes, Ariana Fein

Honors Theses

Mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, are a growing global concern with profound consequences on individuals' well-being and societal functioning. The burden of these disorders is not only psychological but also economic, affecting quality of life. Mental health outcomes are heavily influenced by a range of social determinants, such as financial status, education, and access to healthcare. While extensive research has focused on WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) countries, there remains a significant gap in understanding how these determinants affect mental health in low-resource settings or non-WEIRD countries. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the …

Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints (1999) By Millicent E. Selsam, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Picture Books

Coming up with the most reasonable explanation of the available clues is something we all do on a daily basis. This book describes animal tracks as clues from which children can make inferences about what kind of animal left them and what they were doing when they did.

Aquariam (2018) By Cynthia Alonso, Samantha Piede

Picture Books

When the protagonist of Cynthia Alonso's Aquarium discovers a small, orange fish has splashed onto her neighborhood pier, she delightedly attempts to realize her dream of living amongst marine life. She decides to build a new home for it -- a human-sized aquarium -- in her living room. However, her earnestness is not enough to make this space a true home for the fish. Samantha Piede's Thinking in Stories review highlights several ethical and epistemological questions raised by this wordless narrative. What can we know of the needs and desires of species other than our own? What are the ethical …

I’M In Charge Of Celebrations (1986) By Byrd Baylor, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Picture Books

The young woman speaking to us from this beautiful book shows us a way of honoring and celebrating singular experiences we have in the natural world, and how doing this could enrich the meaning of our lives. She describes them in a notebook, marks their dates, and gives them names. Think of this as what ancient Greek philosophers called a “spiritual exercise”— something we do to strengthen our ability to pay attention, to heighten our sense of the beauty and dignity of the natural world, and to better understand our place in it. Of course, moments worth celebrating can happen …

Depth Of The Lake And The Height Of The Sky (2017) By Kim Jihyun, Megan Jane Laverty

Picture Books

The Depth of the Lake and the Height of the Sky (2017) is KimJihyun’s first picture book; it is composed entirely of pictures. It “tells” the story of a young boy and his dog who spend a day swimming and sunbathing at a lake that is within walking distance from his grandparents' home, whom he is visiting with his parents. At first glance, the story might seem unremarkable, recounting an experience familiar to many. However, Kim’s illustrations challenge this assumption by drawing us into the boy’s encounter with nature. She creates a visual journey that guides us through a perceptual …

Funding Trends In Higher Education That Have Significant Impact On Accountability, William R. Stripling

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

For many years, higher education has come under fire for its lack of accountability. During this period, there has been increasing scrutiny over how universities allocate and spend their budgets. While state and federal funding sources have dwindled, the cost of operating a university has continued to rise. Politicians have publicly pressured universities to avoid raising tuition, yet this has led to public outcry over the return on investment of obtaining a higher education degree. Many parents have also expressed outrage over the rising costs and lack of accessibility. The reduction in financial resources has left many universities with limited …

The Lived Experiences Of Physical Therapy Educators During Ethics Instruction, Erin Simunds Pt

Doctorate in Education

Physical therapy educators must prepare students to navigate the ethical complexity and pressures of clinical practice. However, limited evidence exists regarding the best pedagogical strategies to develop future clinicians' ethical skills. This study aimed to explore how physical therapy ethics educators integrated their personal and professional experiences with academic elements when designing and implementing ethics instruction. The research draws from the semi-structured interviews of eight educators teaching ethics in Midwestern physical therapy programs to discover instructional patterns supporting student engagement with the content. Participants' narratives specified how curriculum design considerations, critical thinking dispositions, and organizational alignment factors influenced their approach …

Teacher Perceptions Of A Mindful-Based Social Emotional Group Drumming Curriculum: A Collective Case Study, Kristin Lewis

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Educational researchers have discovered a connection between educator and student well-being. Educators need to cultivate these skills to effectively model social emotional learning (SEL). However, there is a shortage of resources for elementary general music educators that intentionally embed social emotional competencies in tandem with adhering to the National Core Arts Standards.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine elementary music educators’ perceptions of a Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning (MBSEL) group drumming curriculum and its impact on their own and their students’ social emotional competencies (SECs). The research questions were: (1) What are elementary music educators’ perceptions of …

Secondary String Students’ Perceptions Of The Role Of Self-Efficacy In Mitigating Their Musical Performance Anxiety: A Collective Case Study, Mary E. Henton

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Musical Performance Anxiety (MPA) is a multifaceted psychological condition that arises before, during, or after musical performance and presents a significant obstacle for young musicians, particularly secondary string students. Closely linked to the spotlight effect and social anxiety, MPA has worsened among youth following the COVID-19 pandemic due to decreased social interaction, both of which have had adverse effects on students’ mental health. Despite teachers’ awareness of MPA’s prevalence, music education programs often lack instruction in specific coping mechanisms to address it, and many students do not seek support or treatment.

The purpose of this study was to describe the …

Supporting English Language Learners In Agricultural Education: A Document Analysis, Ellie Chitwood

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In Nebraska’s rural agricultural education classrooms, increasing numbers of students learn English as a second language, yet support tailored for these learners remains limited. This study explores how English Language Learner (ELL) resources are organized, accessed, and utilized within Nebraska’s agricultural education system. Drawing on Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and leadership education frameworks, a qualitative document analysis examined state policies, Educational Service Unit (ESU) supports, and professional development materials. Findings reveal a coherent statewide policy overshadowed by uneven regional implementation and limited agricultural contextualization. Despite resource disparities and technological constraints, agricultural educators demonstrate leadership by innovating bilingual supports and fostering …

When The Baobab Trees Bow Before The Iroko: Chinua Achebe And His Literary Heirs In African Fiction: The Case Of Chigozie Obioma, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, And Noviolet Bulawayo, Akua Agyeiwaa Denkyi-Manieson

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Akan of Ghana have a proverb that translates, “When a thing is not placed in its rightful place, it will fall down,” and “Respect must be accorded to whom respect is due.” They also say, “The one behind walks in the footsteps of the one in front.” These Akan proverbs capture the literary journey encountered in the works of Chigozie Obioma, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and NoViolet Bulawayo in The Fishermen, Purple Hibiscus, and We Need New Names, respectively. Their narratives reflect an undeniable acknowledgment of the literary path cleared by one man often hailed as the …

Digitization, Diversity, And Discovery: A Review Of The 2025 Potsdam Digital Humanities Spring School, Akua Agyeiwaa Denkyi-Manieson

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A review of the inaugural 2025 Digital Humanities Spring School at the University of Potsdam.

Amin's Harvest For Tomorrow Through Nine Compassionate Attributes:, Dua Nadeem, Bibi Haleema, Fazila Saleem, Komal Malik Shivji, Samina Iqbal, Seemi Batool

Institute for Educational Development Pakistan (IED-PK) Archives

At CfC, we believe that the future of our society depends on raising children who understand and practice compassion in all aspects of their lives. The book was created to help children connect with the concept of compassion and other core values, such as self-compassion, mindfulness, courage, gratitude, forgiveness, integrity, humility, altruism, and empathy. These values are essential not only for personal development but also for building stronger, more caring communities.
In the Sindh context, where communities face unique social, environmental, and climate related challenges, we wanted to provide children with a narrative that reflects the importance of collective action …

An Examination Of Middle School Enrollment And Participation In The National Ffa Organization, Melanie Dorminey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Middle school agricultural education programs and opportunities for middle school students to be members of the National FFA Organization were first made available in 1988. The Perkins V Act of 2018 provided the first federal funding to support middle school career and technical education programs. In conjunction with the federal funding provided by the Perkins V Act of 2018, the National FFA Organization adopted a national middle school membership affiliation program where middle school FFA chapters could pay a flat fee for all students enrolled in middle school agricultural education courses over the traditional membership of paying per individual student. …

How Do The Commitments Required To Be An Agricultural Education Teacher Impact The Children Of Female Agricultural Education Teachers As Perceived By Their Children?, Danielle Nicole Grant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this study is to explore how adult children of women agricultural education teachers articulate their experiences growing up with their mother working in the agricultural education field. This will be examined through the following research. The phenomenological study focused on the perceptions of five adult children of female agricultural education teachers in a single state. The research was conducted through recorded virtual interviews with a targeted list of pre-determined questions. Five themes emerged after utilizing Colaizzi’s phenomenological method of analysis: 1) Mother’s Commitment to Implementing the Three Circle Model, 2) The Need for Outside “Maternal” Role Assistance, …

Positioning The Online Learner: How The Use Of Technology Matters, Susan E. Taylor

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While technology is a normal part of life both for personal and professional uses, this study focuses on how the use of technology positions the online learner. Understanding how technology tools position the learner can help instructors of online courses make meaningful and intentional instructional decisions for the technology tools they utilize. The research on the impact of technology tools in the field of education is limited. The main objective of this qualitative case study was to explore the use of technology tools in an online course to determine how those tools position the learner.

Data were collected from course …

Engaging Young Children In Art Museums Through Interactive Programming, Rebekah K. Bostic

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Young children can be successfully engaged in art museum programs in many ways. Rather than identifying only one pedagogical strategy that is most effective for them, it is more productive to consider how different approaches affect the experiences of children in a museum. Despite the considerable body of existing research about educational strategies for preschool children, a clear synthesis of various pedagogical methods has not been applied to art museum programming for this age group. This research project used participant observation as its methodology to conduct four case studies attempting to answer the question: “How do different museum educational strategies …

A Learning History Of Online Portfolio Development In Kinesiology: Academic Innovation From Pilot To Powerhouse, Lyndsay M. Burneisen Phd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study examines the phased development of an online kinesiology education program, tracing its evolution from inception to institutionalization through Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory. Using a learning history methodology, this research synthesizes document analysis, stakeholder interviews, and focus groups, and historical program data to explore how strategic leadership, faculty engagement, student support, and technological advancements influenced the program’s growth and sustainability. The research is structured around three critical phases: inception, maturation, and institutionalization, highlighting key adaptations in curriculum design, administrative structures, and quality assurance. Findings reveal a transition from a decentralized, experimental model to a structured, integrated online …

Peace Education: Exploring Educational Possibilities, Erica Ferrer Ariza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Peace Education is a growing field of study that includes different approaches to understanding and promoting peace, conflict resolution, and social justice. Peace education can be a strategic area for societies that have experienced various forms of direct or indirect violence as is the case of Colombia, South America, which has undergone prolonged periods of violence and internal conflict. Considering that peace is contextual and should be defined and decided on by the people involved in the target context, this work aims to illuminate how a peace education process can be experienced by teachers and students and the forms it …

The Barbosa Model: Supporting Faculty In Online Course Development Through A Structured Instructional Design Approach, Gabriela Martin Barbosa

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The expansion of online education has amplified the need for structured, pedagogically informed faculty development. This study explored the implementation of the Barbosa Model—an instructional design framework developed to support faculty in creating effective, engaging, and well-aligned online courses. Grounded in established instructional theories and tailored to institutional needs, the model guides faculty through five phases: Existing Course, Mapping Structure, Review, Design, and Evaluation.

The study conducted at West Liberty University used pre- and post-interviews, faculty reflections, and thematic analysis to evaluate the model’s influence on faculty perceptions, instructional strategies, and professional growth. Findings revealed that while faculty perceptions of …

The Effects Of The Implementation Of State-Sponsored Free Community College Programs On Enrollment And Net Price, Kristafer Lee Adkins

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

State-sponsored, free community college programs have been implemented with the goal of increasing access to higher education, especially for financially disadvantaged students. This study seeks to determine the impact of the implementation of the Tennessee Promise and the Oregon Promise on enrollment and net price by student family income level using a difference-in-differences methodology comparing in-state, public, two-year institutional outcomes with: in-state, public four-year institutions; national, public, two-year institutions; and, public, two-year institutions in states that border Tennessee/Oregon. Enrollment was, on average, found to have increased between 44 and 167 students at Tennessee public, two-year institutions for all students with …

Three Essays On The Economics Of Crime And Education, Joy Kanengiser

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The first chapter investigates the labor market impacts of the Clean Slate Law, a policy designed to reduce barriers to entry by automating the sealing of criminal records. Using IPUMS CPS data from six states, I employ a difference-in-differences framework with individual fixed effects and an event study design to identify changes in employment outcomes. I find that the Clean Slate policy increases employment by 0.33 percentage points and weekly hours worked by 0.44 hours (approximately 24 minutes). Full-time employment rises, while self-employment declines by 0.12 percentage points, suggesting a shift from informal to more stable, formal jobs. These employment …

The Impact Of The Implementation Of The Interconnected Systems Framework (Isf) On Educators, Kayla Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Amid growing concerns around teacher retention and educator job satisfaction, this study explored how system-level frameworks, particularly the Interconnected System Framework (ISF), could influence key teacher outcomes. While the ISF has been widely associated with improved student outcomes, this research investigated its potential to enhance educator experiences, focusing on working conditions, retention rates, and school climate. Quantitative analysis revealed that schools implementing the ISF or PBIS reported significantly more favorable working conditions and school climate compared to non-implementing schools. Although teacher retention rates did not significantly differ across implementation types, notable variability within the non-implementing group suggests a need for …

Perceptions Of Partnership: How Instructional Designers And Faculty Collaborate To Design Online Courses In Higher Education, Robin Zahrndt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This ethnographic study examines the collaboration between faculty members and instructional designers during the development of online courses at a large, research-intensive university. As institutions expand their digital learning initiatives, effective partnerships between faculty and instructional designers have become increasingly important; however, they are often constrained by hierarchical norms, disciplinary differences, and time pressures. Using a framework for interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare settings, this study analyzed recorded meetings and post-participation interviews to examine how collaboration unfolded and how participants perceived its influence on course quality. Findings indicate that faculty maintained clear ownership of instructional decisions, often viewing designers as supportive …

Assessing Stress, Anxiety, And Burnout In Undergraduate Veterinary Technology Students, Dean Ann Daughaday-Provine

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Academic stress, anxiety, and burnout can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of students pursuing degrees in veterinary medicine. This quantitative study was designed to investigate the effects of academic stress, anxiety, and burnout on undergraduate students enrolled in Veterinary Technology programs. This study gained critical insight from current students transitioning through a rigorous curriculum of standards designed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) has established standards, outlined in policies and procedures, to ensure the quality of assessments and enhancements in veterinary education within accredited Veterinary Technology programs.

The Role Of Faith-Based Adult Education In Black And Marginalized Communities, Brian Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how faith-based and strengths-based adult education programs impact the cognitive well-being, life purpose, and socioeconomic outcomes of Black, and marginalized adult learners. The research seeks to understand the lived experiences of participants, motivations, and barriers to inform more inclusive and effective adult education practices. Additionally, the study aims to understand what impact these organizations are having on the self-efficacy, socioeconomic outcomes of Black and marginalized students, while looking to align areas for improvement. While the study uses quantitative methods to answer research question, the focus of questions bring insight that would …

The Value Of Advanced Degrees In Agricultural Communities, Classrooms, And Ffa Chapters Of Georgia Agriculture Education, James L. Hunter

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 established federal funding for vocational education in the United States, and school-based agriculture (SBAE) programs are a result of that act. SBAE teachers face the same challenges that other educators face. The attrition rate of SBAE teachers is in line with the national average of teachers in other content areas, and researchers have studied to try to ascertain why some teachers stay while others leave the profession. Many factors contribute to a teacher remaining within the education profession, while other factors lead to a teacher changing professions. The study examined the impact of advanced degrees …

Relationship Between School Climate And Effectiveness, Michele D. Franklin Mrs

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to explore the relationship between school climate and school effectiveness in six rural elementary schools. School effectiveness was defined by state reading, math, and index achievement scores. The districts’ Studer Education Survey and the KSA’s Quality of School Climate and Safety survey assessment data were combined to determine each school’s climate score. The Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework guided the study. The study examined a rural school district’s focus on providing a system of support for reading, math, social emotional learning (SEL), and behavior (SEB) that influenced school climate and ultimately …

La Dinámica Estabilización / Desestabilización Social En La Serie Televisiva Peaky Blinders: Análisis Semiótico, Edgar Ávila-González Ph.D., Romano Ponce-Diaz Ph.D., Juan Carlos González-Vidal Ph.D.

STEM for Success Resources

Tesis para obtener el grado de: Doctor en Arte y Cultura