Education Commons^™

Impact Of A Virtual Support Program On Student Success In Neuroscience And Neuroanatomy Courses: Opportunities And Challenges, Abbigail Kubiak, Sue A. Sisto, Janice Tona

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

We investigated the outcomes of a novel neuroscience and neuroanatomy support program (NSP) developed and implemented in the pre-professional phase of an accredited Bachelor of Science/ Master of Science occupational therapy (OT) program. This research demonstrates the potential of targeted small group tutoring as an effective means to promote student success and retention. Modeled after Response to Intervention programs, we used a three-tiered approach to support student success. All students received standard lecture content (Tier 1). Students who desired extra help attended an optional recitation (Tier 2) and students who received a score of 70% or lower on one or …

Enhancing Intraprofessional Collaboration: A Quantitative Study On The Impact Of Paired Learning In Ot And Ota Programs, Chia-Wei Fan, Vicki Case

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

This study investigated the impact of pairing 112 occupational therapy (OT) and 66 occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students in small groups over a 13-week clinical skills class. Students worked together in the weekly 2-hour class to practice various clinical skills and had the option to attend an additional weekly 2-hour open lab. A repeated measures design was used to evaluate students’ perceived importance and ability to engage in intraprofessional collaboration based on the Kirkpatrick model. The Intraprofessional Collaborative Practice Survey (ICPS) was administered at three time points: the beginning (T1), the middle (T2), and the end of the trimester (T3) …

Why Occupational Therapy?: A Qualitative Analysis Of Incoming Students’ Reasons For Entering The Profession, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck, Carli Friedman

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Insight into students’ views and understandings of what occupational therapy (OT) practitioners do and what a career will be like can shed light into how the profession is socially perceived. Additionally, this knowledge can be useful for recruitment, retention, and curriculum design, especially for addressing misunderstandings and inaccurate perceptions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the narratives of incoming OT students when asked why they chose to enter the profession of OT. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic data, and then thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data about why participants wanted to become occupational …

1 Of 84 The Discursive Tactics Of Perpetuating White Normativity In Public Education: A Critical Policy Discourse Analysis Of Anti-Crt Policies Across 18 States, Alison Wilson, Alissa Blair, Jason L. Endacott, Christopher Giller, Christian Z. Goering

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

In recent years, state policies banning "divisive concepts" have proliferated as part of a coordinated effort to undermine racial justice by framing critical discussions of race as "indoctrination" and imposing ideological restrictions on curriculum and pedagogy. Using critical policy discourse analysis informed by a critical study of whiteness, this paper examines how 22 policy documents from 18 states operate discursively to shape the parameters of race-related discourse in public education. Our findings suggest that these policies employ three primary discursive maneuvers: (1) constructing false equivalencies that equate white discomfort with racial oppression, (2) appealing to "universal" values to obscure systemic …

The Relationships Between Parent/Guardian And Teacher Inclusion In School Decision-Making Processes, Perceptions Of School Quality, And Retention In Schools, Julie Bergmann

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study offers an explanation of the relationship between the inclusion of parents/guardians and teachers in Michigan K-12 public school decision-making processes, perceptions of school quality, and subsequent parent/guardian and teacher retention by the school. Decision-making structures and participation in those structures, participants’ own childhood experiences, trust, agency, relatedness (belonging), and usefulness were considered in constructing a model of best fit to explain the relationships between decision-making inclusion, perceptions of quality, and retention. What emerged from this 225-participant (121 parents/guardians and 104 teacher) survey was a model that affirms that professional learning communities (PLCs) are a structure that supports greater …

Finishing My Sentence: A Critical Autobiography Of A Black Woman Who Has Been The Principal And The Prisoner, K.C. Wilbourn Snapp

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This critical autobiography explores how my experiences as a Black woman born and raised inDetroit profoundly shaped my worldview, leadership style, and professional decisions as a school principal. Anchored in the theoretical framework of critical race feminism, this study examines the intersections of race, gender, and place, revealing how Detroit’s complex social, historical, and cultural dynamics informed my development and the paradigms that guided my thinking as both an educator and a leader. Through self-reflection and scholarly inquiry, I analyze how these lived experiences influenced my approach to problem-solving, community engagement, and the pursuit of equitable learning environments. This work …

Gai Research - A Case Study On The Implications Of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gai) On Teaching Within An Irish Technological University., Moya Cronin

Theses

The rapid emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) has introduced a transformative age of technology, gaining prominent attention in higher education. This mixed-methods case study examined how GAI was understood, applied, and managed within an Irish Technological University at a time of turbulence when no official GAI policies were available as a point of reference. Lecturing and research staff were invited to participate in an online survey (𝑛 = 145) and semi-structured interviews (𝑛 = 8) to share their experiences with GAI technology within the case study university. Lack of guidance was seen to affect staff’s confidence and adoption, but …

2025 Merc Annual Report, David B. Naff, Jesse Senechal, Paula L. Ogston-Nobile

MERC Publications

This is the annual report of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) at Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2024-2025 academic year. It includes vignettes depicting MERC activities in the past year that align with each of its five principles: research, relevance, rigor, multiple perspectives, and impact. It concludes with a discussion of MERC's commitment moving forward.

Virginia Literacy Act Expansion: Implications For Middle Schools, Candace Bechtold, Joan A. Rhodes, Valerie J. Robnolt, David B. Naff, Kendall Hunt, Jan Collins

MERC Publications

This MERC research and policy review focuses on expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) to include support for middle school students across the Commonwealth. It explores three questions:

1. What were trends in middle school literacy prior to the VLA expansion?
2. What state policies exist for middle school literacy achievement?
3. What does research say about literacy intervention at the middle school level?

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for middle school literacy policy and practice.

Supporting Students In Transition To And From High School, David Naff, Jamelle Simmons, Meleah Ellison, Shelby Garofalo, Laura Thoene, Kim Dupre, Sooyeon Moon, Karli Johanson, Paul Harris, Martin Darby, William L. Parker, Tracy Booker, Janel Miley, Mysia Perry, Xun Liu, Maggie Szydlowski, Ahmed Abbas

MERC Publications

This report is part of a two-part series focused on supporting students in transition across PK-12 education. Specifically, it explores transitions into and out of high school school. The report includes a synthesis of recent peer-reviewed literature, analysis of publicly available data (with a specific focus on Virginia and the metropolitan Richmond region), and summary of relevant federal, state, and school division-level policies. It answers the following questions:

1. What are key considerations for supporting students in transition to and from high school in the MERC region?

2. How do federal, state, and division policies guide support for student transitions …

Ai In Education: Teaching, Learning, And Thinking With Machines, Mary Strawderman, Jesse Senechal, Eric Ekholm, Jason Vest, Moe Greene, Dawn Johnson, Daniel Case, Oscar Keyes, Yaoying Xu, Robert Godwin-Jones, Kait Donahue, Kim Elmore, Haley Hendershot, Amy Corning, Paulina Guerrero, Samaher Aljudaibi, Justin Thurston

AI in Education: Teaching, Learning, and Thinking with Machines

This collection from the Humanities Research Center (HRC) Digital Technology in Education (DTE) working group arose from questions around how rapidly emerging generative AI tools are reshaping teaching and learning in K-12 and higher education. The contributions, loosely organized around ethics, policy, and practice, adopt a humanities lens to probe how generative AI and other emerging digital technologies impact human values, experiences, and social structures, surfacing their philosophical, ethical, cultural, and societal implications for schooling. From the perspectives of practitioners and interdisciplinary scholars, the pieces showcase various dimensions of AI's creative potential in education, while also questioning its limitations and …

Department Of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University: Historical And Personal Reflections, Richard A. Glennon

VCU University History Books

This book presents a historical account of Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Medicinal Chemistry, compiled and recollected in 2025 by Professor Emeritus Richard A. Glennon. Included are personal reflections alongside a historical overview of the department's origins and faculty, as well as newly developed programs and initiatives.

Alternative Grading Approaches In Health Professions Education: A Scoping Review Protocol, Elena Wong Espiritu, Aine O'Connor, Sara Blass, Kathryn Lewis, Angela Shelton Clauson

Funded Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to map the existing literature on alternative grading approaches in health professions education and how these approaches are implemented.

Introduction: Although traditional alphanumerical tiered grading methods are widely used in health professions education, this approach is typically insufficient in providing descriptive feedback, allowing formative assessment, and promoting deeper learning and clinical application. Alternative grading approaches, including competency based assessment, pass-fail grading, ungrading, specifications grading, and others, are increasingly being implemented, but there is a gap in understanding which approaches are being used in which health professions programs and how the approaches are …

From Proposal To Podcast: Starting A Student-Driven Pharmacy Podcast In The Classroom, Jarett C. Worden, Jennifer Duck

Funded Scholarship

Background: Podcasts are a widely available and popular educational medium for healthcare providers, residents, students, and patients. Podcasts are convenient, accessible, and may be effective education tools for listeners. While some studies have attempted to measure the effectiveness of podcasting to enhance knowledge, there are few studies evaluating podcasts in pharmacy education. The purpose of this project was to provide students with the opportunity to create a podcast episode through an in-class, semester-long assignment and to evaluate student perceptions of knowledge, confidence, and professional identity.

Educational activity: Over the course of a semester-long elective class, students worked in groups to …

Student Perceptions Of Campus Facilities And Their Impact On Educational Experience, Steven W. Greenwood

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the perceptions of undergraduate students regarding campus facilities at a picturesque academic institution located in Northern California and explores how these perceptions impact their educational experiences and outcomes. Despite the significant role of physical and technological infrastructure in shaping educational environments, student voices are often underrepresented in the capital renewal process. This study aims to fill this gap by employing a qualitative research approach grounded in empowerment theory and using participatory methods, such as photovoice and semistructured interviews. It underscores the importance of student involvement in facility planning and renewal processes and introduces the research objectives, theoretical …

Coaching Strategies For Instructional Improvement: Social Emotional Learning In The Preschool Classrooms, Maria Eleanor Yniguez Del Rosario

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This participatory action research (PAR) study explored how Lincoln Public Schools (LPS) preschool instructional coaches develop coaching strategies that support teachers in fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) among young children. Grounded in the collaborative principles of PAR, the study positioned instructional coaches as co-researchers.

The research was conducted within the LPS Department of Early Childhood Education, involving four preschool instructional coaches. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, coaches’ classroom observations, informal teacher-coach conversations, researcher’s observations of coaching sessions, and a group reflection session. Using an iterative analytical approach (Tracy, 2020), the study examined how coaching strategies evolve and the conditions that …

A Morphosyntactic Study Of Arab American Code-Switching, Qamar Bazar

Publications and Research

This study examines the morphosyntactic behavior of Arabic lexical items in English-dominant speech among Arab American bilinguals. Based on original survey data from 22 participants between the ages of 16 and 32, the paper focuses on specific Arabic words, such as yani, khalas, and ana, in English conversations across informal and professional settings. The analysis shows that these lexical items function as free morphemes and are inserted without disrupting English syntax, often serving discourse, emotional, or identity-marking purposes. Grounded in sociolinguistic theory and Poplack’s model of intra-sentential code-switching, this paper argues that code-switching among Arab Americans is intentional and …

Friends Of The Library Newsletter, Spring 2025, Hillary Richardson

Fant Library News and Reports

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Teacher Reinforcements On Student Outcomes In Adapted Physical Education: A Systematic Review, Juliana Jamison-Espinoza

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This systematic review examined the effectiveness of various reinforcement strategies on student outcomes in adapted physical education (APE) settings for individuals with disabilities. A comprehensive literature search spanning from 1979 to 2024 across six databases identified 18 studies meeting inclusion criteria, involving 140 participants aged 3–22 with diverse physical and cognitive disabilities. Reinforcement strategies evaluated included token economies, verbal praise, tangible rewards, and alternative techniques such as video modeling and peer-mediated interventions. Outcomes measured were categorized into affective states, behavioral improvements, and cognitive gains. Results showed mixed effectiveness across studies: while 7 of the 18 studies reported significant improvements in …

January 2025 Bulldog Alumni & Friends News, Kari Jones, Garrett King

Bulldog Alumni & Friends News

January 16

SWOSU Near You - Music Mixer: Tulsa, OK

February 13-14

55th Annual SWOSU Jazz Festival

March 9-15

SWOSU Giving Week

April 4

North Family Lecture & Friends of Crowder Lake Dinner

April 10-12

52nd Annual SWOSU Rodeo

April 28

Everett Dobson Bulldog Golf Classic

May 9

SWOSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner

May 10

SWOSU Spring Commencement

Collaborative Leadership, Elizabeth Burns

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The article focuses on the importance of collaborative leadership among school librarians to enhance their effectiveness in various roles, including as instructional partners and information specialists. It emphasizes that school librarians often struggle with their leadership identity, but adopting a collaborative approach can facilitate shared responsibility and empower teamwork. The text highlights successful initiatives, such as partnerships between school and public librarians in Napa Valley, which ensure equitable access to library resources for all students, and collaborations between school librarians and administrators that underscore the impact of libraries on student success. Additionally, it discusses the global perspective on school librarianship, …

Persistent Reading Deficiencies In Early Education, William Steven Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated early reading teachers’ perceptions of the instructional practices they use to identify early elementary student reading proficiency, including unique challenges they face when addressing the development of early reading skills. The researcher investigated eight first and second grade teacher classrooms during the 2023–2024 school year through collective interviews, observations, and related school data. The researcher performed a qualitative analysis of the collected data to reveal varying themes that support recommendations to reduce persistent reading problems among early elementary students. Using purposeful sampling to select licensed, experienced participants, the insights of eight early elementary reading teachers …

Exploring Homeschooling Parents’ Conceptions Of Reading Motivation From A Self-Determination Theoretical Perspective, Harmony Petty

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how homeschooling parents (HPs) conceptualize the role of motivation in early reading development and how these conceptualizations inform how they design and implement their reading instruction. Given the importance of reading motivation for early literacy development, the decline in reading motivation over the early years, the lack of understanding how early literacy instructional practices affect young students’ reading motivation, and the paucity of research regarding home education, the researcher proposed that exploring HPs’ conceptualizations through the use of surveys, interviews, and home observations would allow for the compilation of a …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Examining The Impact Of The First Step To Success/First Step Next Intervention: A Pbis Tier 2 Intervention For Pre-K - 3rd Grade Students, Shawna L. Belanger

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Students with or at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders often experience significant challenges that adversely affect their academic performance and overall well-being. Although the First Step to Success/First Step Next (FSS/FSN) intervention has been widely implemented as a PBIS Tier 2 intervention to support Pre-K to 3rd-grade students with challenging behaviors, research findings have been inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the literature on the intervention’s effectiveness across studies, focusing on both social-emotional behavioral outcomes and academic performance.

Using a comprehensive search strategy, studies meeting rigorous inclusion criteria were identified, and effect sizes (Hedges’s g) were calculated to …

The Impact Of A Creativity-Focused Course Design On The Development Of Pedagogical Creativity In Preservice Teachers, Joanna M. Weld

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Current preservice teachers have been apprenticed within an educational system that favors standardization which has limited their experiences with creative teaching and learning. The field of teacher education is currently lacking in frameworks to support the creative development of preservice teachers. The aim of this practitioner research, multiple-case study was to examine the impact of a creativity-focused course design on the beliefs of preservice teachers enrolled in a Secondary English Methods course in regards to the nature of creativity, the role of creativity in teaching and learning, their personal creative strengths and weaknesses, and creativity in lesson planning. Data was …

Families’ Experiences Participating In A Collaborative, Multimodal Writing Workshop: Agency, Home Literacies, And Home/School Connections, Erin M. Faeth

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Students benefit academically and socially from strong home and school partnerships (Padak & Rasinski, 2010; Patrikakou et al., 2003; Risko & Walker-Dalhouse, 2009), yet there is often a gap between these contexts (Nelson, 2019; Padak & Rasinski, 2010; Risko & Walker-Dalhouse, 2009). To bridge the divide between these spaces, I drew on a sociocultural view of writing, the paradigm of family literacy, and third spaces of literacy to investigate four families’ experiences participating in a collaborative, multimodal writing workshop. Through practitioner research and case study methods, I explored the following research questions: (1) How do families talk about writing while …

Tapping A Hidden Resource In Classrooms: Peer Interactions And Their Role In Language, Literacy, And Disciplinary Literacy Practices Among Adolescent English And Non-English Learners, Jina Byeon

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This qualitative case study examines how peer interactions among six seventh-grade English Learners (ELs) and non-ELs serve as both a context for and a method of developing adolescents' literacy and disciplinary literacy practices. Data sources include two semi-structured interviews with each student and their four classroom teachers, student and teacher ethnographic interviews, 300 hours of classroom observations (in English Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Science, English as a New Language Tutorial), and student-generated artifacts (e.g., worksheets).

Through the application of iterative and thematic data analysis, three key themes were identified: 1) adolescents' interactions with their peers fostered a supportive …

Complex Missing Data Problems In Education Surveys, Thomas Wesley Robertson

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Missing data are a nearly universal problem in human subjects research, including in education. However, reporting and addressing missing data is an issue, despite guidelines from the APA style guide and the What Works Clearinghouse, as well as guidance from prominent statisticians on the best methods to use. Prior research conducted in 2004 and 2014 found that in the field of education, most studies do not report or address missing data. In addition, no study has looked specifically at how missing data are reported and addressed in complex surveys. The current study has two main objectives: first, to determine if …

The Effects Of Curriculum Changes On Teacher Instruction And Teacher Perceptions On How These Changes Impact Student Learning, Seon Sloley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Curriculum across North Carolina has seen many changes over the past few years. It is necessary for changes to take place in the curriculum, as an updated curriculum allows for success. Although teachers do not have a voice in these changes, changes are made to improve classroom instruction and adapt to the mission, vision, and goals of schools focusing on teaching and learning. A study on the effects of curricular changes on teacher instruction and teacher opinions on how these changes impact student learning in North Carolina was conducted with teachers from across North Carolina in elementary, middle, and high …

The Appalachia Effect On School Administrator Retention, Jeremy D. Cauley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify why school administrators in Appalachia North Carolina chose to stay in their current positions and to discover what factors impacted their decisions to stay. The study’s findings address what school administrators indicate as contributing factors when deciding to stay in their current school district. The results can inform district administrators in effectively retaining school principals in Appalachia North Carolina. After reviewing and studying existing data on the retention of school principal leadership, a survey was created based on principal retention and delivered to 62 principals in Appalachia North Carolina. Six participants volunteered …