Education Commons^™

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Relationship Education For Latino Adolescents, Joshua J. Turner, Esra Şahin, Kay Bradford, Brian J. Higginbotham

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Adolescent romantic relationships are often characterized as exploratory and fleeting; however, they have lasting impacts on individual well-being and relationship quality during and beyond adolescence, shaping future relationship expectations and quality (Collins, 2003; Madsen & Collins, 2011). Adolescent relationship education is an important programmatic feature under the broader umbrella of family life education (Simpson et al., 2018). Previous evaluative studies document positive outcomes in educating adolescents on how to build and recognize healthy relationships (Bradford et al., 2023; Kerpelman et al., 2010); however, research remains limited in addressing potential benefits for adolescents from historically underrepresented groups. This study addresses this …

Referral Strategies For Recruitment And Engagement Of Community Adults Into Online Extension Health Programs, Cheryl L. Eschbach, Dawn A. Contreras, Holly B. Tiret

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This article shares details behind building organizational capacity to establish program referrals for statewide recruitment of community adults into Cooperative Extension’s online health programs. This study explores the role of intentional recruitment strategies (active and passive) to increase participant program enrollment into health education and shares examples from one state that has created a trained workforce that offers ongoing research- and evidence-based programs. After many years of trying paper, phone, and electronic medical record methods to increase program reach, Michigan State University Extension tried an electronic referral process via a QR code and web link, accompanied by program marketing, to …

Teaching Leadership In The Context Of Crisis: Connecting Organizational Leadership And Crisis Competencies In A Faculty Leadership Education Program, Caitlin Lunzmann, Nicole Lamee Perez Stedman, Matthew Sowcik

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This research focused on enhancing leadership instruction in colleges of agriculture. A multi-institutional research team initiated a program to teach agricultural and natural resource faculty how to create leadership-oriented case studies for undergraduates. Forty faculty members participated in an online training academy centered on Bolman and Deal’s Organizational Frames and case study writing. Following the academy, these faculty members participated in field experiences in the southeastern U.S. to gather data on natural disasters, which they used to write case studies about leadership in agriculture. Though the program focused on organizational leadership, it also discussed leadership in the context of natural …

Exploring The Educational Needs Of Family Caregivers For Patients With Dementia, Karen L. Franck, Janet Fox, Ann A. Berry, Kristen Johnson, Jessica Taylor, Matt Devereaux

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Family members who care for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia often face significant stressors and challenges that impact their quality of life. As part of a project to develop Extension educational materials and resources specifically for family caregivers, we conducted an online needs assessment survey with 196 adults in the U.S. Participants identified doctors, the internet, and caregiver support groups as top sources of information about dementia. They were interested in strategies to help them manage stress, address patient behavioral issues, and access locally available resources. Furthermore, they were interested in attending educational programs with other caregivers. These findings …

Authoring Culture: The Foundations Of Twenty-First Century Writing Suggested Assignment, Columbia College Chicago

Authoring Culture: Foundations of Twenty-First Century Writing

A suggested classroom assignment to accompany the Genre and Ethos chapters in Authoring Culture: Foundations of Twenty-First Century Writing .

A Mixed-Methods Design-Based Research: Study Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And The Implementation Of Social Emotional Learning In The High School Classroom, Avia Brown

Dissertations

The escalating mental health crisis among adolescents, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, positioned schools as critical intervention sites for supporting student well-being (K. McNamara, 2020). However, teacher capacity and self-efficacy in implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies remain significant barriers to effective, sustainable practice. This mixed-methods design-based research study examined the efficacy of professional development and instructional coaching in enhancing teacher self-efficacy and supporting the implementation of SEL competencies in high school classrooms.

The researcher employed a comprehensive, five-stage design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to develop and evaluate a structured eight-week professional development and coaching intervention targeting SEL …

Orientation Or Disorientation? A Critical Content Analysis Of Refugee Cultural Orientation Curriculum., Amanda Jean Lacey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cultural Orientation (CO) is a free, legally mandated, multi-session program intended to provide refugee newcomers ages 18-65 with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to integrate and achieve self-sufficiency in the United States. Despite occurring at a critical time in the resettlement process, there has been almost zero scholarship analyzing the content or efficacy of domestic CO curriculum. This dissertation addresses that gap by performing a Critical Content Analysis (CCA) on The Road Ahead (TRA), the de facto official CO curriculum promoted through the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE). Framed by a postcolonial perspective and informed by the …

Building Bridges: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach To The Development Of Professional Learning To Enhance Teacher–Student Relationships For Students With Emotional Behavioral Disorders., Renee Renz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Positive teacher-student relationships are essential to student success yet are often difficult to create and maintain with students identified with Emotional Behavioral Disorders (EBD). Students with EBD frequently struggle with emotional regulation and disruptive behaviors, making relationships and trust both essential and challenging. This study addressed the need for professional learning that equipped educators with strategies to build and maintain positive relationships with students with EBD in secondary school settings. Guided by a participatory action research design, this study used Appreciative Inquiry as a framework for engaging expert secondary teachers from Kentucky in co-constructing professional learning. Appreciative Inquiry focused on …

What Will It Take To Keep You? A Phenomenological Investigation Of Teacher Career Decisions In Title I Elementary Schools., Tonya Nicole Holt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the factors influencing teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave Title I elementary schools in Kentucky. Grounded in Herzberg’s Motivation–Hygiene Theory, the study examined the interplay of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic conditions that shape teacher satisfaction, commitment, and attrition. Twelve current Title I teachers participated in semi-structured interviews designed to capture their lived experiences and perceptions of work in high poverty contexts. Analysis revealed a balance of pull factors—such as purpose, relationships, and supportive leadership—and push factors—including workload, resource limitations, and inadequate administrative support. Leadership quality emerged as the central variable mediating these forces. Teachers …

Be Yourself: Life History Of Gay K-12 Educators In Kentucky And Their Lived Experiences., Kevin L. Garner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative life history study explored the lived experiences of gay male educators navigating authenticity, visibility, and advocacy in K–12 schools across Kentucky. Using Queer Theory as the primary framework, complemented by Queer Pedagogy, Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, and Minority Stress Theory, the research examines how social, institutional, and political contexts shape the professional lives and identity expression of gay men working in educational settings. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten participants, each sharing life narratives that illuminated the intersection between personal authenticity and professional identity within politically and religiously conservative environments. Through reductive analysis and thematic …

The Effects Of Secondary Students Using Metacognitive Strategies On Reading Comprehension Scores, Georgia Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study focuses on researching the use of metacognitive strategies on secondary students reading comprehension scores. Metacognitive strategies are strategies that help students become more aware of their own thought process and learning. The metacognitive strategies used for this study were self-monitoring, self-regulation, self-questioning as well as the use of vocabulary knowledge. The study takes place in an intermountain west charter high school Reading for Pleasure course for students ninth through twelfth grade. All students within the Reading for Pleasure course received specialized reading instruction over a six-week term from the researcher. All students received approximately 360 minuets of specialized …

Impacts Of Biology Modeling Pedagogy On Student Cogitive And Non-Cognitive Elements Of Learning., Jessie K. Newhouse

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation employed a quasi-experimental design used to investigate the use of a modeling pedagogy in high school biology. Modeling is a key element of the Science and Engineering Practices of the Next Generation Science Standards. While research of Model Based Pedagogy (MBP) in physics and chemistry is well established, the influence on biology instruction remains less understood. This research examined how MBP affected both cognitive and non-cognitive components of student learning compared to traditional biology instruction. Existing data collected by Dr. Kathy Malone in collaboration with Ohio State University (2016) were analyzed to study the effectiveness of the MBP. …

Perceived Organizational Support Of High-Performance Support Staff Members In Professional Soccer Organizations., Erica B. Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore perceived organizational support among high-performance support staff (HPSS) within professional soccer organizations. Specifically, this study examined how HPSS define organizational support, identified factors that shape their perceptions, explored organizational challenges they experience, and analyzed how those challenges intersect with their perceptions of support. Organizational Support Theory (OST) and its central construct, Perceived Organizational Support (POS), served as the theoretical framework guiding this study. OST assumes employees form global beliefs about the extent to which their organization values their contributions and cares about their well-being. To address the study’s purpose, a basic interpretive …

The Important Of Female Coaches: What Barriers They Face, Why They Stay, And What Can Be Done To Attract More., Hayley E. Yourous

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

After the passage of Title IX, there has been an increase in the number of females participating in sports; however, the same cannot translate to women in coaching or leadership positions (Acosta & Carpenter, 2014; Hart et al., 1986; LaVoi & Baeth, 2018). The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of females who had served as head coaches in the high school setting with at least eight years of experience as a head coach. The NCAA (2022) reported in 2020 that female coaches accounted for 41.3% of female teams' head coaches, both intercollegiate and …

El Poder Del Bilingüismo Y La Ciencia, Isabella Winslow

World Languages and Cultures

This project is an explanation of the importance of bilingualism, science, and our responsibility as humans within this environment. As living beings on this planet, we have a responsibility to respect and protect it. Over the course of the last several hundred years, we humans have made countless advancements. We have created unimaginable technology and discovered incredible resources produced by the land. However, in the process of doing so, we have damaged and continue to damage our environment. Reefs in the ocean have been bleached by increases in acidity, thousand year old glaciers have melted, forests have been destroyed by …

Leadership With A Counseling Perspective: Exploring The Influence Of Counseling Skills On Elementary Principalship Effectiveness, Julie Thacker

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if there are counseling skills that effective elementary school principals possess and to identify those counseling characteristics. The participants consisted of elementary school principals holding membership in the Indiana Association of School Principals. They were asked about school locale, type, administrator gender and race, building level, pre-service training institution, years as an administrator, length of time in current school, counseling licensure, and presence of a licensed school counselor in the school. A total of 201 participants began the survey, and 143 completed it, resulting in a completion rate of 71%. Through exploratory …

Initiative Fatigue, Courtney Wildoner

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined the prevalence of initiative fatigue in K–12 education and its relationship to emotional, mental, and physical work fatigue. The sample included 169 participants who identified as public school educators, school-based leaders, or district office staff. Participants completed the Three-Dimensional Work Fatigue Inventory (Frone & Tidwell, 2015) and the School-Wide Initiative Inventory (O’Quinn, 2018). Findings showed that initiative fatigue is most strongly rooted in concerns about the implementation process rather than the initiatives themselves. The “how” of implementation emerged as a significantly greater challenge than the “what,” functioning as a job demand that depletes emotional, mental, and …

Anatomy Of Authority: Dissecting The Rare Species Of Women Deans, Marlana K. Beck

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the lived experiences of women physician medical school deans, aiming to understand the factors that influence their career pathways and the challenges they face in achieving and maintaining leadership roles in academic medicine. Despite the increasing number of women entering the medical profession, there remains a significant gender disparity in leadership positions, particularly in the role of medical school dean. This study addresses the gap between the growing number of women physicians and the disproportionately low number of women in senior academic leadership roles. The research is grounded in feminist and role congruity theories, which provide a …

“I Found My Place:” Exploring The Counterspace Experiences Of Black Alumni On Historically White College Campuses, Jacquelyn Burns Rucker

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the life experiences of Black alumni and their participation in intentional, multicultural programming of cultural facilities to create a sense of counterspace for Black students on historically White college campuses. The study captured the stories of 12 Black alumni who graduated from seven historically White institutions (HWIs), between the years of 2010 and 2016, across four different states. The 12 study participants completed undergraduate and terminal degrees during the years 2009 - 2016 and identified as Black, African, or bi-racial. The interviews, conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, were conducted on zoom. The theoretical framework of the …

All Things Equal: Uncovering The Extent Sexism Influences Higher Education Through Faculty Perceptions Of The Inner Workings Of The Academy, Jonathan Yorkowitz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The history of critical systemic issues in higher education has been well documented in recent literature (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017, Freire, 2018, and Wilder, 2013). Among the critical issues noted, sexism has remained a significant influence suppressing opportunities for women within higher education in the United States. bell hooks (1981, 2003, 2014) shared research about the specific systemic challenges encountered by Black women in the academy, providing a key connection between sexism and racism. The lack of significant proposed solutions to address sexism in higher education scholarship, along with the need for an updated and more comprehensive understanding of faculty …

Exploring Online Teaching Self-Efficacy Among University Faculty Members During The Period Of Covid-19 Pandemic, Sarah Alamri

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine faculty’s perceptions of their self-efficacy regarding online teaching and some variables that may affect online teaching efficacy. A quantitative survey was administered to examine whether three faculty variables (online teaching experience, professional development experience, and COVID-19) predict a significant portion of the variance in faculty self-efficacy in online teaching on four subscales: student engagement, instructional strategies, classroom management, and teachers’ computer use. Faculty participants were recruited from King Khalid University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a web-based survey adapted from Robinia (2008). The data collected in this …

Implementing Pain Curricula In Prelicensure Physical Therapy Education: Faculty Perspectives And Experiences, John D. Kiesel

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of pain on society has implications for individuals’ well-being and the overall health of society. Despite the high prevalence of pain, many new healthcare providers often lack the confidence and skills to manage patients with pain effectively. This phenomenological research study aimed to understand the lived experiences of faculty responsible for developing and delivering pain education to prelicensure physical therapy students. A secondary purpose was to examine the barriers that exist from the perspective of faculty members with subject matter expertise in pain education to implementing effective pain education in prelicensure curricula. Prelicensure pain education is essential for …

Exploring Teacher Beliefs And Perceptions About Teaching Reading, And Self-Efficacy For Implementing Reading Instructions, Richmond Osei Amakye

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reading proficiency among learners at the elementary school level remains a national concern despite several decades of research, investments, and policy reforms aimed at improving literacy outcomes. The Science of Reading (SoR) framework, grounded in decades of interdisciplinary research, emphasizes explicit, systematic, and evidence-based instruction across five core components — phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This study examined elementary teachers’ beliefs about teaching reading, perceptions of the SoR, and self-efficacy in implementing reading instruction. Quantitative data were collected from teachers in west-central Indiana via an online survey that measured their beliefs about teaching reading, perceptions of SoR, self-efficacy …

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda, December 1, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting agenda from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, December 1, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting minutes from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Athletic Participation Among Students And Its Correlation To Increased Outcomes In Academic Performance, Benjamin Carl Anderson

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigated the correlation between student participation in athletic-based extracurricular activities and academic performance among high school students in rural Indiana. The research sought to determine whether athletic involvement contributes to academic success indicators such as PSAT and SAT scores, and school attendance. The study looked at how athletics can serve as a lever for improving academic outcomes and supporting students in meeting the criteria for postsecondary readiness. Key research questions explored the influence of gender, ethnicity, grade level, and attendance on academic performance within the subset of students participating in athletics. A review of the literature supported …

“I Was The Only One Who Was Alone:” The Impacts Of Covid-19 Pandemic On International Students In U.S. Higher Education, Lawrence Ejiofo

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international students. The study focused on their academic, racial, emotional, psychological stress and trauma experiences. The student participants interpreted these experiences through their lens and backgrounds as international students. They expressed the feelings of desertion and abandonment during the pandemic. The findings showed that the impacts sustained and endured by international students during the COVID-19 pandemic were real, painful, disturbing, and emotional. The image created of the US and other first world countries in the 21st century was very damaging and showed failure of leadership management. It had been more …

First-Hand Perspectives Of Autistic And Neurodiverse Individuals In Social And Extracurricular Settings, Stephen M. Hinkle

Education (PhD) Dissertations

This dissertation explores the firsthand experiences of autistic and neurodiverse individuals in social and extracurricular settings. Grounded in symbolic interactionism and disability studies, this study leveraged qualitative interviews to provide greater insight into the extracurricular lives of autistic persons and the quality of preparation and education provided to said participants to successfully navigate those experiences. Due to the limited number of studies on this topic, and the tendency of programs to focus on general skill development for this population, significant attention was also given to investigating the activity-specific skills needed for various social and extracurricular activities.

Understanding the intricacies in …

Pathways To Progress: Understanding Gender Gaps Across Life Stages In The Asean Region, Debbie Wong, Jacqueline Cheng, Elizabeth Cassity, Jeaniene Spink, Payal Goundar, Jeffery H. Marshall

International Education Research

The ASEAN region continues to grapple with some of the world’s most pronounced disparities in educational outcomes. Addressing foundational learning gaps and promoting equity and inclusion for girls, women and marginalised groups remains a central priority in both educational improvement and labour market reform agendas regionally and internationally. This report presents new insights into the factors shaping human development outcomes for girls, women and marginalised groups in the ASEAN region. It supports the priorities under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), which aims to reduce development disparities among ASEAN member states. Grounded in case studies from the newer ASEAN member …

Secondary English Language Arts Students’ Perceptions And Attitudes Toward Constructing Multimodal Arguments, Jasenda R. League

Dissertations

The 2025 Georgia English Language Arts standards indicate that teachers will be moving away from a monomodal approach to literacy learning to include students’ construction and evaluation of multimodal texts in grades 9-12. As such, this qualitative case study explored 39 Honors American Literature students' experiences with constructing multimodal arguments. The study sought to understand students’ perceptions and attitudes of creating an argumentative multimodal composition, including their attitudes toward each stage of the composing process: planning, drafting/designing, revising/editing, and publishing. The context was a suburban high school, and the research and data collection took place over 12 weeks. Data types …