Education Commons^™

The Impact Of A Multi-Method Approach For Ethics Education On Occupational Therapy Students’ Self-Efficacy And Confidence, Brittany Nash, Jeffery Etheridge, Sierra Sosa, Verenice Macias, Araya Bradley, Kayla C. Osowski, Natalie Cornwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a multi-method approach for ethics education. The investigators measured occupational therapy (OT) students’ self-efficacy for ethical decision-making and explored their perception of what contributed to their confidence in understanding the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) 2020 Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics. This one-group mixed methods study included twenty Master of OT students. Self-efficacy was measured via a pre-test and post-test using an adapted version of the New General Self-Efficacy Scale, and open-ended questions captured data regarding student perceptions of what contributed to their confidence. Students presented with high …

School Contexts And The Construction Of Literacy Practices And Identities Among Middle School Students Of Color, Eugene K. Gyekye

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation investigates how middle school students of color construct and negotiate their literacy identities within an urban public school's institutional, classroom, and online contexts. The study is situated at Oakville Middle School, a culturally and linguistically diverse setting that reflects the complexities of adolescent literacy education in contemporary urban environments. The research explores how students' literacy practices are shaped by their interactions with school structures, pedagogical approaches, peer dynamics, and digital platforms and how these experiences influence their development as literate individuals.

The study responds to the persistent challenge of educational inequity, particularly the disconnect between students' cultural identities …

The Senior International Officer: A Sociological Perspective On The Development Of A Higher Education Profession, Mohammad Mansoor Khan

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Internationalization of higher education institutions in the United States has progressed rapidly since World War II. The pace and specifics of this internationalization vary by institution. However, there are some shared characteristics including, but not limited to, increase in student mobility, both inward and outward, exchange of scholars, cross-border research, and internationalization of the curriculum. This increased the institutional administrative burden and necessitated the centralization of internationalization activities under a single administrative unit and led by an individual capable of providing leadership at their institution in the area of higher education internationalization. This individual is recognized as the Senior International …

Personal Characteristics, Goal Setting, And Academic Thriving, Hedayat Ghazali

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract

This dissertation examines if pre-existing personal characteristics influence the effectiveness of a reflective goal-setting intervention on credits completed among first-year university students. Grounded in goal-setting theory and self-regulated learning frameworks, the study investigates the roles of self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, metacognitive strategies, and autonomy in shaping students’ academic outcomes. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, four distinct learner profiles were identified based on these personal characteristics. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to evaluate whether the intervention significantly affected students’ academic performance—measured in credits completed —over three time points (T0, T1, T2) across intervention and control groups.

The results revealed a …

A Comparison Of College Readiness Among Adult And Traditional-Age College Students, Oxana Rosca

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation examines age-based differences in college readiness by comparing newly enrolled adult undergraduates (age 24 and older) with traditional-age undergraduates at two public institutions: a large online university serving primarily working adults and a residential research university serving primarily younger students. The study uses secondary data from 5,447 incoming students who completed the Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement of College Skills (DAACS) Reading and Mathematics assessments between May 2022 and May 2023. The primary goal was to test whether adult and traditional-age students differ in reading and mathematics readiness after adjusting for background characteristics.

Multistage bifactor and unidimensional two-parameter logistic …

Effects Of Formative Assessment On Students’ Regulation Of Learning: A Meta-Analysis, Ching-Yen Yu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Does formative assessment (FA) promote self-regulated learning (SRL)? Theoretically, FA has long been believed to facilitate SRL due to their overlapping conceptual frameworks, yet empirical evidence has remained scattered and inconclusive. This study presents the first comprehensive, large-scale meta-analysis to examine whether, to what extent, for whom, and under what conditions FA enhances SRL.

Following a preregistered, PRISMA-guided protocol, we systematically searched the literature from 1998 to 2024 and synthesized 999 effect sizes from 138 studies (n = 23,293 students) using multilevel meta-analytic models that accounted for dependent effects. Across educational levels and contexts, FA, on average, demonstrated a …

Teacher Retention Bright Spots: A Four Case Analysis, John Costello

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The teacher retention crisis has been extensively studied over the 21st century. Robust survey data from the National Center of Educational Statistics (NCES) has produced volumes on the quantitative characteristics of the teachers, students, and schools associated with low teacher retention (Ingersoll, 2001; Boyd et al., 2011; Ronfeldt, Loeb & Wyckoff, 2013). However, few studies have examined what is going right at high poverty schools which nonetheless maintain exceptionally high teacher retention. This dissertation utilizes a positive deviance lens to examine four schools; two typical schools that had normal teacher retention rates for New York State, and two outlier schools …

English Language Learners In The Classroom: Perspectives And Teaching Approaches Using Art Integration, Kimberly M. Rodriguez

Honors College Theses

Art is a sensory language. In language learning, visual literacy is an essential factor in developing interlanguage. Art can interchange cultural understanding and promote social learning. The research gathered is based on the perspectives of teachers in the neighboring schools located in Georgia. The purpose of this paper is to examine how teachers can support language learning using visual literacy. Teachers are asked to participate in an interview to record their experiences in language learning. In the completion of the data collected, the analysis gives a deeper understanding of how to improve accommodating language learners in the classroom using visual …

Exploring Lgbtq+ Competency In Healthcare, Jordan Whiteman

Honors College Theses

Marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community are known to face healthcare disparities that negatively affect their process of navigating healthcare systems. This project explores the perceived lack of representation and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community within healthcare settings, exposing the deficits in knowledge for unique challenges and inequalities these patients may face. By viewing the literature, a myriad of complications faced by LGBTQ+ people in clinical settings can be identified. They possess a generalized feeling of mistrust towards the healthcare system. Healthcare staff overall describe low confidence with caring for this demographic. Heteronormativity’s presence in the field of healthcare …

Effects Of Actualized Language Policy On Ukrainian Stability, 1989-2022, Dawn Hersey

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This dissertation seeks to generate a new perspective of the complicated relationship between actualized policy and stability through looking at Ukraine’s language policies and stability in a mixed manner approach that includes both primary and secondary sources. Russia justified its irridentist activities through claiming to protect Russian nationals within Ukraine’s borders: language policies within Ukraine appear to be a trigger for Russian antagonism. Neither Russian irridentism nor Ukrainian nationalism are being considered as right or wrong in this dissertation: the intent is to highlight trends, patterns, and perceptions in alignment with Ukrainian language policy. This dissertation does not present a …

“History Is Within And Around Us:” High School Students Actively Engage The Past In New York City, Alina Lewis

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Background/Context: Research on history education in the United States context has focused narrowly on history as a cognitive practice. This body of research assumes that it is difficult for students to “think like historians” (Wineburg, 1999) and is largely focused on advancing a discrete set of historical thinking skills through curricular interventions. Largely ignored in this discourse are the ways in which students engage with the past in out-of-school contexts.

Purpose/Objective: This study examines students’ engagements with history in out-of-school contexts. It is my hope that better understanding and describing how students experience history outside of school spaces will suggest …

First-Gen Latinx/Afro-Latinx And Complex: Keeping Resilient Responses On Shuffle, Tibisay I. Hernandez

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This qualitative study examined the racialized experiences of first-generation Latinx and Afro-Latinx students in higher education. Fourteen participants engaged in pláticas, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups to reflect on how their identities, race, and institutional dynamics shaped their collegiate journeys. The study examined how these students navigated both personal and institutional settings, revealing the emergence of tensions around belonging, authenticity, and cultural responsibility in everyday interactions. Using Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) alongside Multidimensional Identity Negotiation Theory (MINT) and Co-Cultural Communication Theory (CCCT), this study developed an emergent framework—the Resilient Response Model—to better understand how students respond to complex identity …

From A Child's Perspective: A Qualitative Study Of Elementary School Student Engagement, Deanna J. Springstead-Gonzalez

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract

Background and Purpose. This study sought to investigate child engagement from the children's perspective, aiming to understand better what they perceive as factors that facilitate or constrain their academic engagement in classrooms. By centering children's voices, this research challenges traditional views of students as passive recipients of education, instead recognizing them as active participants with valuable insights into their learning experiences. This work builds on the frameworks proposed by Shirley and Hargreaves (2021) and Lawson and Lawson (2013) that utilize socio-ecological theory to better understand those factors impacting children’s learning experiences.

Method. The study was conducted at an elementary …

"Can We See How It Works?" The Interactions Among Teacher, Student, And Content At A Living History Museum, Stacy E. Ward

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Today’s students need to be critical consumers of information. To that end, a thoughtful social studies curriculum provides students an opportunity to gain content knowledge and to practice thinking skills. However, elementary teachers, especially primary grade (K-2) teachers, often do not possess the skills and content knowledge to teach rich historical content and thinking skills. Teachers can partner with museum professionals and access museum content in this endeavor. Living history museums, immersive museums that interpret multiple buildings, trades, and heritage breed animals, hold the potential to be a strong partner for primary grade students, who are only 5-, 6- and, …

The Job Satisfaction Of New York State’S Public School Business And Marketing Education Teachers, Michael Lamastra

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century (Perkins) Act defines career and technical education as organized educational activities in which students learn applied academics, professional skills, and career training in a specific technical field. Many United States students, and ,specifically, New York State students, do not have access to CTE coursework. New York has seven CTE content areas: agriculture, business and marketing, computer science, family and consumer science, health sciences, technology, and trade/technical education.

One barrier to accessing this coursework is the availability of teaching staff. According to data collected by the New York State Education Department …

Utilizing Technology To Support Collaborative Problem-Solving Of K-12 Students In Stem Education: A Multivariate Multi-Level Meta-Analysis, Marzieh Dehghan-Chaleshtori

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

As classrooms in the 21st -century increasingly incorporate digital tools, educators and researchers have turned their attention to the promising potential of technology in enhancing essential competencies such as collaborative problem-solving (CPS) skills (OECD, 2017). CPS skills, including joint decision-making and coordinated problem resolution, are necessary for success in both academic and real-world contexts. While many studies have investigated individual problem-solving in technology-enhanced learning environments, the collaborative dimension remains underexplored (Graesser et al. 2018b). This dissertation addresses that gap by conducting a multivariate multi-level meta-analysis to examine the overall effects of technology use on K–12 students’ CPS skills in STEM …

Developing Concepts In Second Language (L2) Science From ‘Bits And Pieces’ Of Prior Knowledge: A Multiple Case Study Of Spanish-Speaking 4th And 5th Graders, María Isabel Martínez-Cuenca

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Earth science concepts sit at the intersection of the compounding difficulties English language learners’ (ELLs) face in content-integrated instruction. Emerging first language (L1) skills, emerging L2 language, and the difficulty of science terms interact with second language (L2) content learning. Moreover, L2 science concepts rarely develop incidentally through L2 socialization and instruction in the same naturalistic way as they do in the L1. Leveraging L1 resources may help ELLs in this process, yet there is a dearth of studies that consistently do so. This dissertation explores how, and the extent to which, leveraging ELLs’ pre-existing knowledge may support science and …

Monitoring Children’S Learner Engagement: The Early Years. A Practical Guide To In School And Learning High Impact Strategies That Build Strong Learner Engagement, Amelia Ruscoe, Leanne Lavina

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This practical guide presents a high‑impact approach to understanding and monitoring young children’s learner engagement through the integrated use of Dialogic Drawing, LIVE Threads, the Children’s Learner Engagement Monitor, and the Children’s Learner Engagement Planner. These tools were developed using evidence from research with early childhood teachers in response to calls from school leaders and educators for practical, evidence‑informed strategies that strengthen learner engagement. The research underpinning the Children’s Learner Engagement Monitor, funded by AISWA as part of the Preschool Reform Agreement (Australian Government, Department of Education, 2022), addresses four key goals: enabling teachers to gain critical knowledge about children’s …

Early Outcomes Of A Structured Literacy Implementation Across A School System: The Archdiocese Of Canberra And Goulburn Catalyst Program, Tanya Serry, Jennifer Buckingham, Pamela Snow, Lorraine S. Hammond, Kym Simoncini, Tina Daniel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although professional learning is the main approach for improving teacher knowledge, little evidence exists for its effectiveness in changing practice and improving student outcomes. One possible explanation is poor alignment between professional learning and classroom practice. In this paper, we describe a system-wide approach to changing teacher knowledge and reading pedagogy. Classroom teachers (n = 199) across 43 schools engaged in professional learning on contemporary science of learning and training in the use of published systematic and explicit reading instruction programs. Following the intervention, students’ word reading data revealed that the percentage of students requiring support post intervention had significantly …

Students As Designers Of Digital Games, Damian Maher, David A. Martin, Natalie Mcmaster, Stefan Schutt, Ben Zunica

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Designing, programming, and using digital games are highly engaging activities and can be effective instructional approaches for supporting student learning. Often, students are users of the games rather than taking on the role of designers and developers, the latter of which requires computational and design thinking skills. This chapter presents a background on digital game design, the rationale for teaching and learning using digital game design, design tools, and examples of students as designers of digital games with links to curriculum outcomes. Drawing on research, the benefits, topics for inclusion, and pedagogical considerations involved in digital game design are investigated. …

Transdisciplinary Work-Integrated Learning’S Contribution To Societal Transition: A Scoping Review, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Sonja Coetzee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This scoping review explores the perceived value of transdisciplinary work-integrated learning (TWIL) for contributing to social change and the enablers of impactful TWIL offerings. TWIL is a pedagogy-based approach which connects students from diverse disciplines with external partners to engage in authentic, work-focused activities as a formal component of academic study. This review focuses on TWIL where students collaboratively explore and problem-solve on known local community and wider societal issues, such as climate, health, food, and water, to foster transformative practice. Thematic analysis of 31 academic sources highlighted the recognised worth of TWIL for fostering student skills for transformation, developing …

Motivation Matters: The Positive Influence Of Parental Involvement On Children’S Writing Outcome, Bronte Kelso-Marsh, Anabela Abreu Malpique, Helen Davis, Debora Similieana Valcan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Theoretical models and empirical evidence suggest parental involvement in general education is beneficial for children’s educational outcomes and that motivational factors may contribute to explaining parental involvement in children’s education. Few studies, however, have examined the role of parental involvement in children’s writing outcomes and, to our knowledge, none has investigated the motivations of Parents/Carers to support their children’s writing development in the first place. In this study, we aimed to address this gap by measuring Parents'/Carers' autonomous and controlled motivations for supporting their children’s writing at home and their engagement in writing activities with their children, and then assessing …

Risky Topics In Health Education: Enacted Content When Students With Migration Backgrounds Meet Swedish Health Education, Mikael Quennerstedt, Annica Caldeborg, Dean Barker, Valeria Varea

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

School health educational content often entails different subject areas and a variety of topics that students are supposed to learn, and when taught in diverse classrooms, potentially positions students as at-risk. Using vignettes in interviews with migrant students in Sweden, the study focuses on views of the content of health education in relation to different ways that health as risk is enacted. Four aspects of risk were identified: (i) risk as content in health education and risky, including topics such as nutrition, stress, smoking, and pollution; (ii) risk as content in health education but not so risky, including topics such …

Who Cares For The Carers: A Poetic Inquiry Of Initial Teacher Educators Of Professional Experience, Narelle Lemon, Carli Sanbrook, Rikki James, Marnie Harris, Tammy Green, Rozita Dass, Bev Adkin, Gail Berman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this paper, we suggest that poetic inquiry offers a pathway for capturing the deeply felt, personal dimensions of ongoing identity growth of initial teacher educators of professional experience. We propose that poetic inquiry provides an avenue for authentically sharing experiences and insights into caring and being cared for, diverging from conventional academic narratives. Through poetic self-reflection and collective poetic representation, we can uncover and navigate the subtle tensions shaping our identity journey, fostering a communal understanding of the teacher educator’s role within the contexts of Australian higher education and initial teacher education.

The Absence Of Disability Representation: A Critical Gap In Children's Picture Books, Helen Adam, Sally Murphy, Yvonne Urquhart, Katira Ahmed

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In a recent study, we examined the diversity of main characters and family structures in 90 award listed Australian children's picture books from 2019 and 2020. We found some progress compared to past research (Adam and Barratt-Pugh, 2020; Adam et al., 2021) in terms of culturally diverse representation, though still with predominantly white main protagonists (Adam and Urquhart, 2023). Similarly, we found some increased representation of diverse family structures, albeit with notable absences of LGBTQIA+, step, foster and blended families (Adam et al., 2024). However, a glaring omission caught our attention - the almost complete absence of disability representation among …

Dear Annette…….: Learning Through Our Letters, Mindy Blaise, Leanda Mason

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Feminist environmental educational researcher Annette Gough’s recently published book Gender and Environmental Education is a collection of articles that have been foundational to the field of feminist environmental education. This paper shows how two feminist scholars creatively reviewed this book relationally. In doing so, reading, writing, and citational practices were reinvented to create room for generating multiple knowledge relations and connections. Our review demonstrates how letter writing may be used as a form of collective field-building. We invite readers to consider how collective field-building can be made possible through creative and careful reading practices.

Lessons From Australasian Principals’ Experiences With Crises: Adapting, Learning And Transforming, Michelle Striepe, Christine Cunningham, Mohini Devi, David Gurr, Fiona Longmuir, Sylvia Robertson, Adam Taylor, Pauline Thompson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper offers a comparative analysis of how Australasian principals navigated a period of compounding crises. Building on our previous research, this study examines the longer-term impacts and lessons learned from crises experiences. Analysis of interviews with principals from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand revealed a balance of directive and collaborative approaches as they adapted to meet changing community needs. A common theme was a focus on wellbeing and relationship-building although context-specific differences emerged. These differences related to the type of crisis, school characteristics, and location. As the crises subsided, the principals’ experiences transformed their perspectives on their role and …

Assessing The Impact: Retrospective Analysis Of Department Initiatives On Students' Success In Standalone Occupational Therapy Anatomy Course, Rebecca Ozelie, Saba Elothman, Bridget Hahn

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Student success in anatomy courses is critical for entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) programs, yet many students struggle to master this foundational subject. Research on effective academic interventions to support anatomy learning in OTD programs is limited, leaving a gap in understanding the impact of supplemental resources. This study examined the effectiveness of targeted academic interventions, such as an anatomy bootcamp, peer-led tutoring, and the Anatomage Table for virtual dissection, in improving student performance in a standalone anatomy course. A retrospective cohort design compared two groups of students enrolled in the course during Fall 2022 (FA22; n=36) and Fall 2023 …

Belonging And The Lived Experiences Of Underrepresented Occupational Therapy Students, Daniel Cezar Da Cruz, Angela Murphy, Zara Mahmood

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Belonging has been explored in research in higher education with a focus on student engagement or performance and the impact of psychological aspects on individuals' learning. Few studies focused on underrepresented occupational therapy students’ belonging. Our research aimed to explore the lived experience of occupational therapy students regarding belonging at university. This phenomenological study was conducted with six occupational therapy students from the United Kingdom who volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out through Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). Three themes were constructed: Theme 1: Representation and belonging - “I was the only non-white person in the …

Demographic Factors As Predictors Of Academic Performance In First- And Second-Year Occupational Therapy Students, Eileen Du Plooy, Daleen Casteleijn, Denise Franzsen, Gopika Ramkilawon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Significant disparities in academic performance that may be associated with specific demographics can be utilized for supporting diverse student cohorts. Strategies can be developed for students to enhance equity and inclusivity in undergraduate occupational therapy education to ensure student success. This study aimed to determine the predictive demographic factors influencing academic performance among first- and second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students at a university in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, and the sample included 129 first- and second-year students. Data were collected retrospectively from university records and student dashboards. Key demographic and academic variables were analyzed, including personal …