Education Commons^™

Welcoming Spaces: Parent Leadership And Early Literacy As Community-Based Co-Regulation Supports, Lauren S. Dake

Masters Projects

Many young children exhibit challenging behavior in early childhood settings, often as a response to high levels of stress in their home and community environments. This applied master’s project presents Welcoming Spaces, a parent-led initiative developed to support children’s emotional development, caregiver well-being, and early literacy through informal, community-based experiences. In response to concerns about rising dysregulation and reduced access to supportive environments, the project offers portable play areas hosted by parents at events such as school functions, library gatherings, and local festivals. These spaces include calming sensory activities and opportunities for shared reading, while also providing caregivers with …

December 5, 2025 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

U-Glide Program Fall 2025, Unf Office Of Undergraduate Research, Unf Graduate School

Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry, and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium Programs

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Sustainability In Family And Consumer Science Curricula, Emily Hill

Honors Theses

As climate change intensifies and global food systems face growing environmental pressures, there is an increasing need to prepare younger generations to respond to these challenges. Sustainability education is increasingly recognized as essential for helping students understand the connection between human actions, environmental resilience, and their overall well-being. This form of education already has a foundation in the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) curriculum. This study examines the effects of integrating sustainability lessons into secondary Family and Consumer Sciences food and nutrition courses in a rural Michigan high school. It was hypothesized that if students participate in sustainability presentations and …

Teaching With V.I.S.I.O.N.: A Qualitative Case Study, Abbrissola A. Shull

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

This qualitative case study explored how those matriculating through a teacher education program can develop a critical consciousness of K-12 students experiencing homelessness or high mobility using the Teaching with V.I.S.I.O.N workshop model. This acronym stands for V: Value the culture and lived experiences of students reflected in the classroom, I: Implicit Bias Awareness, S: Study scenarios using the equity literacy case analysis approach (Gorski, 2018), I: Increase the diversity of texts provided in the classroom to reflect these experiences, O: On-going reflection regarding current practices and ways to improve using equity literacy (Gorski, 2018), …

The Anatomy Of Change: A Scoping Review Of Surgical Curriculum Renewal Processes, Marc A. Seifman, Robyn Woodward-Kron, Roi Y. Kagan, Kirsten Dalrymple, Aimee K. Gardner, Ian Incoll, Lars Konge, John T. Paige, Debra Nestel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Renewal of surgical curricula is critical in maintaining relevance to contemporary healthcare needs. A curriculum document usually describes its purpose, intended outcomes, content, methods, and assessment and evaluation processes. The document may also consider cultural, professional, political, and social contexts. While there are published curriculum development approaches, guidance on renewal processes is limited. This scoping review aims to synthesise literature on surgical curriculum renewal, to understand the key elements of this process, and identify areas for improvement. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted by the core author team, with co-creation involving a Knowledge User Group (KUG). Seven databases were …

Instructional Designers’ Perceptions On Generative Ai Integration In Higher Education, Alison Mclaughlin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study is that the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools has created challenges for online higher education instructional designers, who must evolve pedagogically and continually evaluate and refine the balance between the use of generative AI tools and human development. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of online higher education instructional designers on what challenges and successes they are experiencing in integrating rapidly evolving generative AI tools in course design and development, and how these experiences have shaped their current perceptions about teaching and learning. Guided by …

First Scholars: Enhanced Institutional Support For First Generation College Students, Genevieve Reside

Masters Projects

First-generation college students (FGCS) represent a large proportion of incoming freshmen at higher education institutions. Despite the having a high amount of FGCS, institution supports do not meet the high level of need presented by this student population. Lacking cultural capital that would otherwise be passed along by college-graduated parents, FGCS must navigate unfamiliar college territory on their own, requiring a high volume of support. This project explores the importance of institutional support on education outcomes for FGCS, proposing a comprehensive social and financial support program. The scholarship program, First Scholars, awards increasing scholarship amounts for subsequent years that students …

Expressive Language And Behavior, Bethany J. Butler

Masters Projects

Research has revealed the importance of language and its correlation with behavior. Although language and behavior are both forms of communication, this project explores young children and their relationship with society. Honing in on the essential importance of efficient expressive language to be able to participate in society. Looking at common barriers that may hinder the language process. Exploring Maslow and his hierarchy of needs, and understanding that the basic needs have to be met before having the ability to learn. In summary, the project focused on how to support the increase in language in different stages.

Propuesta Curricular Para La Asistencia Médica Bilingüe Orientada A La Concordancia De Lenguas Y La Interpretación Médica En Español, David Sanchez-Jimenez, Noemi Rodriguez, Justin Harnandan, Margarita Perez, Melissa Garcia

Publications and Research

Resumen: El presente trabajo describe el proceso para establecer una especialización secundaria bilingüe centrada en la comunicación y la interpretación médica en una universidad de Estados Unidos designada como Institución al Servicio de los Hispanos. Este nuevo título universitario brindará a los estudiantes bilingües de español e inglés especializados en el área de la salud la oportunidad de mejorar sus destrezas comunicativas para convertirse en competentes profesionales de la salud concordantes de lengua.

Abstract:This paper details the process to establish a new bilingual academic minor in health communication and medical interpretation at a United States university designated as a Hispanic-Serving …

School And District Leaders’ Understanding Of Technology Organizations’ Cyber Business Practices, Jayejaye Johnson

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Educational technology (EdTech) interoperability throughout cyberspace provides the financial opportunity to collect and sell student privacy information in digital learning environments, challenging school leaders to govern schools and keep children safe. School leaders provide the resources, funding, planning, decision making, and administration for EdTech cybersecurity practices and policies, yet little is known about what public school leaders understand. A quantitative study was designed using primary data collected from an online survey. Four research questions guided this study: What are the differences in cybersecurity practices and policy response scores (1) between male and female school leaders; (2) among leaders with different …

Child Assent Practices In Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, And Inclusivity, David C. Coker, Ketaki Inamdar, Daniel F. Mccleary, Lesley Cottrell

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The following article addresses a conundrum: What if child assent in research were a fully informed, stand-alone process that empowered all children to discuss meaningfully, negotiate, and decide how and what the research experience would look like? Past research and practices suggest that child assent, when children (youths to 17-year-olds who have not been emancipated) agree to participate in research before, during, and after parents’ or guardians’ consent, is rife with problems that minimize informed participation and prize procedural ethics over true understanding of the processes and autonomous decision-making. Academic articles often lack details, as length requirements and brevity preclude …

'The Rest Is Silence': Reframing Stasis As Integral To Creative Practice, Corinna Di Niro, Pablo Muslera

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This duoethnographic study examines the relationship between motion and stasis in creative practice through the lens of two creative educators working in postgraduate and undergraduate Creative Industries. Drawing on our combined experiences as practitioners and educators at SAE University College, we explore how creative blockages can be reframed as productive rather than problematic, challenging dominant productivity paradigms in contemporary creative industries and education. Through structured dialogic exchange, we investigate three interconnected themes: the rhythmic nature of creative practice, the pedagogical value of embracing productive stasis, and the tension between institutional timelines and creative development. We consider how encouraging SAE creative …

Learning To Play Drums: Rote Learning Versus Note Approach, Jacob R. Brumback

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative historical study is to determine whether rote-learned drummers perform better than formally trained drummers. The issue is that some drummers may excel by watching and developing aural skills exclusively, while others perform well by only reading sheet music. The goal is to decide if drummers with strong aural skills or those who rely on note-reading performed better. The rationale explained how the applicability of rudiments, complex timing, creative fills, and improvisational soloing skills influences the performances of both rote-learned and note-approach drummers. Data collection methods for this research included oral history traditions and analyzing secondary …

December 2025 General Education Council Minutes, University Of Nebraska At Kearney General Education Council

General Education Council

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Social-Emotional Development In Early Childhood On Academic Success, Chelsea Bassett

Masters Projects

Research consistently shows that social-emotional competencies such as emotional regulation, empathy, interpersonal skills and self-awareness play a foundational role in a student’s ability to engage in learning, collaborate with peers, persist through struggles and achieve academically. Deficits in these skills are associated with decreased motivation, disruptive behavior, poor relationships with peers and teachers and diminished academic performance. Grounded in Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory and supported by evidence-based frameworks, this project explores how intentionally targeting social-emotional learning can strengthen both student well-being and academic outcomes. This project examines the relationship between social-emotional development and academic achievement in early childhood and elementary education. …

Make It Shine: Strategies For Improving Academic Journals, Mark Hamilton

Faculty Publications and Presentations

This lightning talk, designed for journal editors and scholarly communication professionals, reviews several strategies for improving academic journals. These include developing best practices for journal publishing, maintaining high editorial standards, establishing regular publishing cycles, and updating the journal platform to a more modern design.

Finding Black Joy: Understanding How Black Students Are Seen, Affirmed, And Nourished In Expanded Learning Opportunities., Jamila Mosley

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how Black students experience Black joy within expanded learning opportunity (ELO) programs and how those programs are structured to nurture that joy. It is guided by the central research question: How do Black students describe the ways in which an expanded learning opportunity program fosters their joy through experiences of being seen, affirmed, and nourished? Using an instrumental case study design at two secondary schools, the study draws on semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations of students participating in robotics, debate, Sister Circle, cheer, basketball, and creative writing. Data were analyzed through multiple cycles of coding, first …

Academic Opportunities: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Principals That Foster Academic Achievement Of Students That Attend Secondary Title I Schools, Loretta O'Nita Speller

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of principals fostering the academic achievement of students in grades six through twelve who attend public secondary, Title I schools. The theory guiding this study was Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Maslow’s theory posits that if a person’s lower-level deficiency needs are not met, ascension to higher levels cannot happen. The central research question is: “What are the lived experiences of principals that lead secondary Title I schools and how do they foster academic achievement of their students?” Purposeful sampling was used in this study, and participants in …

Exploring Universal Design For Learning In Online Synchronous Courses: A Multiple-Case Study, Cindy Baker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to evaluate two postsecondary online courses through the lens of two Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, (1) engagement and (2) action and expression, to determine if learner variability was accommodated in the courses. The theory guiding this study, UDL, when effectively implemented as a teaching practice, is theorized to proactively meet the learning needs of different learners. The central research question focused on the extent to which UDL was realized in two online courses that had been designed with a student-centered approach. Qualitative research was conducted through a case study of two …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study: How Students Affected By Trauma Experience Transformative Learning Through Digital Tools, Anita Sarah Chen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to explore the lived experiences of adolescent students affected by trauma embarking on the transformative learning process as facilitated by digital learning tools. The theory used to guide the study will be the transformative learning theory by Jack Mezirow. The central research question is: How do students affected by trauma experience transformative learning through digital learning tools? Examining students affected by trauma undergoing the transformative learning process facilitated by digital learning tools will be explored using a hermeneutical qualitative design. Ten participants w selected through purposive sampling based on their experiences in …

Exploring Secondary Educators’ Experiences Of Implementing Linguistic-Based Mathematics Instruction For English Language Learners: A Phenomenological Study, Adrian Pearce Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of veteran educators with implementing linguistic-based instructional practices for English language learners (ELLs) in the secondary mathematics classroom. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory as it pertains to language and learning development through social exchanges with people, things, and events in a collective environment. This qualitative study took a hermeneutic, phenomenological approach which allowed the lived experiences of educators to be described, along with an interpretation of their instructional experiences with ELLs in the mathematics classroom to be made. The setting for this research was two …

Personality Traits And Perceived Barriers: A Comparative Study Of Teacher Views On Behavior Interventions, Patricia Geiger Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Maladaptive behaviors negatively affect both students and teachers. Students’ academic success, mental health, and safety are jeopardized by these behaviors, while teachers experience increased stress and burnout when managing them. Behavior interventions have been shown to reduce maladaptive behaviors and improve outcomes. Although most teachers agree that certain factors act as barriers to implementing behavior interventions, there is no consensus on the frequency or impact of these barriers. Guided by the Big Five Theory, this quantitative study examined how teachers’ levels of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness were associated with differences in their perceptions of the frequency and impact …

Managing Inclusive Classrooms In Michigan Schools: A Collective Case Study, Realite Peebles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the training that general education teachers need to manage inclusive classrooms in Michigan elementary school. The theory guiding this study is Dewey’s Progressivism theory as it focuses on active participation in learning and identifying problems and offering tailored solutions. The focus of the Central Research Question is how general education teachers are prepared to manage inclusive classroom environments. The researcher used a collective case study research design with a sample size of 10 participants. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, and journal prompt responses, and subsequently analyzed using open coding …

Linguistic, Academic, And Cultural Experiences Of High School English Language Learners And Sustaining Cultural Pedagogies: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Tina G. Wyatt

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the linguistic, academic, and cultural challenges faced by English language learners at a suburban high school in Texas. At this stage in the research, English language learners were defined as students enrolled in a Texas public high school in a suburban town living in America for no more than four years with little to no English language proficiency, no access to multicultural classrooms, limited instruction from culturally and linguistically trained teachers, and a foreign school environment. The theory guiding this study was Byram’s critical cultural awareness theory, as it aided …

The Lived Experiences Of School Administrators Addressing School Violence Prevention Strategies And Safety Policies In Tennessee: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Trinka Hicks

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of urban high school administrators addressing school violence prevention policies and strategies in academic settings in an urban school district in Tennessee. The central research question used to lead this study is, what are the experiences of school administrators addressing school violence prevention strategies and safety policies in the academic setting? The theory that guided this study is Bandura’s social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory emphasizes observation, imitation, and modeling, and the relative connection between behavior and the social environment was applied in this study to evaluate …

Exploring The Influence Of A Faith-Based Ngo On The Causal Agency Of Children With Disabilities Living In Informal Settlements Outside Nairobi: A Case Study, Amy M. Silvas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the influence of a faith-based non-governmental organization’s (NGO’s) special needs supports on the causal agency of children with disabilities living in an urban settlement outside Nairobi, Kenya. The theory guiding this study was Shogren et al.’s causal agency theory as it looks at the fundamentals of self-determination in interaction with the demands and support available within a specific context. The central research question was: How does interaction with a faith-based NGO’s special education supports influence the ability of children with disabilities and living in an urban informal settlement to be active …

A Phenomenological Study: The Self-Efficacious Experiences Of Mid-Level Black Female Administrators At Public Colleges And Universities In Virginia, Alexis Bacote Archer Alarcón

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the self-efficacious experiences for mid-level Black female administrators at public colleges and universities in Virginia. Self-efficacious experiences were generally defined as a person’s belief in their ability to perform well in their role as a leader. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy served as the theoretical framework for answering the study's central question: What are the self-efficacious experiences of mid-level Black female administrators at public colleges and universities in Virginia? A transcendental phenomenological design using three core processes, epoche ́, transcendental-phenomenological reduction, …

Exploring The Predictive Relationship Between Course Clarity And Utility Value On Engagement For Online Post-Secondary Students In Canada, Amanda Marie Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine how well course clarity and utility value predict student engagement among online learners at a Canadian post-secondary institution. This study is important because it can provide educators and curriculum developers with insights into the factors that positively impact student engagement. Supporting student engagement ensures learners receive a beneficial education and that the institution delivers relevant, engaging programming to retain its students. The sample comprised 68 online post-secondary learners studying at a college in Canada. Data were collected using portions of the Online Learning Climate Scale, the Expectancies and Values …

Internal Coherence Factors Of Instructional Leadership Teams And Their Impact On Student Academic Growth: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Jennifer E. Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive correlational study is to examine the relationship that the Internal Coherence Framework factors of leadership, teacher collaboration, and collective teacher efficacy have on student academic growth measured through teacher VAM scores. This study has significance, in that, it demonstrates how Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) based on the Internal Coherence Framework, through intentional focus on strengthening pedagogy and collective teacher efficacy, impact student achievement at the secondary school level. Junior high and high school teachers who receive VAM scores from thirteen junior high schools and eight suburban high schools in southeast Louisiana responded to the …