Education Commons^™

A Strategic Audit Of Hilton Hotels, Audrey E. Krieger

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This paper provides a comprehensive strategic analysis and audit of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., a global leader in the hospitality industry. It begins with a historical overview of the company and its positioning within the lodging sector, highlighting major competitors such as Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Airbnb. A PESTEL analysis explores macro-environmental forces shaping the industry, while Porter’s Five Forces framework assesses competitive pressures and how Hilton utilizes its brand strength, digital infrastructure, and loyalty programs to remain resilient. The paper then examines Hilton’s strategic direction and key objectives, identifying sources of competitive advantage and core resources that …

The Future Of Coaching: Empowering Prospective Educators In Speech And Debate, Willow Keller

Honors Projects

This project addresses a clear and pressing gap in the Ohio Speech and Debate Association’s current strategic plan: the need for formal coach preparation and recruitment. This project combines academic research with actionable, real-world solutions, ensuring that the proposal is both credible and feasible. It is grounded in data and educational best practices, making it highly relevant to the immediate challenges facing Ohio’s forensics community. This project advocates for the creation of a state-approved coaching curriculum, which will be offered to education majors and certify that they are qualified to coach high school and middle school Speech and Debate.

Development Of Interactive Games On An Affordable Braille Display, Daniel Tsivkovski, Dylan Ravel, Maryam Etezad

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Developing an affordable and STEM learning-focused Braille display addresses a significant disparity in the market for Braille displays, where most fail to provide a cost-effective, accessible, and education-oriented solution. This research aims to bridge this gap through innovative hardware and software development, offering a comprehensive learning experience to elementary school children (K-6) who are blind/visually impaired. The hardware features a piezo-electric tactile display that displays up to six Braille characters at once or a shape in an 8x8 pin array configuration. The educational software includes a user-friendly website packed with engaging STEM activities specifically designed for blind/visually impaired children. The …

Book Review Of Rosenberg, B. (2023). “Whatever It Is, I’M Against It”: Resistance To Change In Higher Education. Harvard Education Press., Chris Babits

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

Book review of Rosenberg, B. (2023). “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It”: Resistance to Change in Higher Education. Harvard Education Press. In “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It,” Brian Rosenberg challenges entrenched traditions in higher education. Combining candid insight and wry humor with bold proposals, Rosenberg critiques static institutional structures, advocates flexible teaching models, and questions the sacrosanct nature of majors. This review highlights Rosenberg’s efforts to foster innovation, inclusivity, and meaningful student engagement in college-level teaching.

Guidance And Lessons Learned For Instructors Seeking To Add Video Creation To Their Skill Set, Wendy A. Swenson Roth

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

Videos have entered the classroom, whether for online asynchronous courses or as supplementary information in synchronous classes. COVID-19 accelerated the pace of online and video learning but left instructors with little time to explore the optimal use of this technology. Nonetheless, videos are here to stay, raising questions about what unique choices faculty must make when implementing them and what new skills are required as videos become additional content delivery sources. The following article provides implementation guidance and lessons learned for instructors seeking to add video creation to their skill set.

Design, Implementation, And Reflection From An Interdisciplinary Course In Museum Studies, Brenna L. Decker

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

In Spring of 2023, I developed a special topics course titled Collection Material Handling to introduce students to museum management using Utah State University collections on the Logan, UT campus. The cross-listed upper-level course brought 16 USU students together from two disciplines: anthropology and natural sciences. The publication details how I used various learning theories to guide the creation of course content and how I structured and implemented activities in the classroom and in the collections. Examples of worksheets, activities, student feedback, and recommended improvements to assignments are provided. I encourage …

Learning A Little Bit Harder: The Intersecting Experiences Of First-Generation And Single-Mother College Students, Natalie Lecy, Elizabeth Hendrix, Brian A. Droubay

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

This study examines the experiences of nine first-generation, single-mother college students, focusing on these intersecting, double-jeopardy identities. Participants’ difficulty navigating college varied; contributing factors included family background, social capital, the type of college attended, and whether they established a mentor. The following themes were established: 1) realizing college is an option, 2) caught between two worlds, 3) college wasn’t designed for us, 4) economic barriers, and 5) disparities in social capital. Our findings indicate colleges were unprepared to meet the unique challenges faced by this group. We present recommendations for the …

The Role And Influence Of Faculty As Predictors For Retention And Satisfaction Among Generation Z, Katelyn Romsa, Stephani Jarecke, Jessie H. Hendricks, Bryan Romsa

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

While previous research has established that faculty and their interactions with students have had the greatest impact on student retention and satisfaction for centuries, limited studies have been done to understand how faculty are influencing Generation Z, our newest generation of students in higher education. This study examined how the quantity of faculty interactions is impacting student retention and satisfaction among 342 Generation Z first-year college students at a public land-grant institution in the Midwest using the National Survey of Student Engagement instrument. In a Mann-Whitney U test, significant difference was …

Spring 2025 Introduction, Nichelle Frank

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

An introduction to the Spring 2025 issue of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence.

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 9, Issue 1, Spring 2025

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2025 issue (Volume 9, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The issue includes five articles addressing challenges in higher education: faculty-student interactions with Generation Z students, experiences of first-generation single-mother college students, implementation of an interdisciplinary museum studies course, guidance for creating educational videos, and a book review on resistance to change in higher education. The journal emphasizes practical strategies for effective teaching, inclusivity, and innovative approaches to pedagogy across various educational contexts.

Perceptions Of High School Students Of Anxiety As An Impact Of The Emsat Exam In The United Arab Emirates, Ameirah Hassan Aal Mohamed

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

The Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) exam, introduced in 2017, is a key national standardized test in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that is considered a major criterion for admission to higher education institutions. As such, the EmSAT exam can create significant pressure on students due to its role in determining future educational opportunities. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the UAE standardized EmSAT exams impact high school students’ anxiety from the students ' perspectives. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative study to collect and analyze data from grade 12 students. The research was framed by Spielberger’s Trait-State …

Understanding Physical Therapist Student Defined Success: A Qualitative Study, Katie Graves, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

Purpose: To (1) investigate student defined success in physical therapist education, and (2) generate key themes from the students’ perspective related to success to enhance physical therapist and health professions education. Method: A qualitative study was conducted through a series of focus groups with 13 first-year and 13 second-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students. Study participants were asked open-ended questions regarding student success and the associated contextual factors. An inductive coding method with thematic analysis utilizing Dedoose software identified major themes. Results: The use of focus groups allowed for in-depth participant discussion, with sample excerpts presented. Data analysis yielded five …

Making Visible Leadership Characteristics And Actions In Fostering Collective Teacher Efficacy: A Cross-Case Study, Donald R. Mendenhall, Suzanne H. Jones, Leann G. Putney

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Poverty can contribute to students' struggles with academic success, yet these struggles may be mitigated in schools with high levels of collective teacher efficacy (CTE). The purpose of this study was to identify effective Title I-eligible schools, serving a high percentage of financially disadvantaged students, while also maintaining high levels of CTE. Two schools were selected for cross-case analysis to explore how leadership characteristics and actions nurtured and sustained schoolwide CTE. The methodology used in this study was a qualitative cross-case analysis. The researchers purposefully selected the schools as cases based on the level of CTE existing in the schools. …

The Impact Of Immigration On Resource Allocation In Minnesota School Districts, Ava Weber

Honors Capstone Projects

This project explores the impact of immigrant student populations on Minnesota school districts' resource distribution and sustainability. By analyzing county-level immigration data alongside district enrollment counts, the research examines how an increase in immigrant students influences the allocation of educational resources within districts. Key components of this study include researching the formula-based state funding for districts, which addresses policy and equity issues; and assessing the marginal costs and benefits associated with each additional student, involving the analysis of economic cost structures. Additionally, the project incorporates an oral history component, using interviews with school administrators to gain insights into the financial …

Getting Back To The Root Of Kindergarten: Using Literacy-Based Materials To Enhance Play Centers, Lauren E. Mcmahon

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This mixed methods action research study aimed to determine what kindergarten students do when literacy-based materials are integrated into pre-existing play centers. Additionally, the researchers wanted to discover student and teacher perceptions of literacy-based materials used to enhance play in the classroom. To do this, a pre- and post-survey was given to student participants and field notes were taken daily during center time. A pre- and post-focus group was facilitated with student participants, and a pre- and post-interview was facilitated with the teacher participant. The data collected over four weeks was analyzed using the constant comparative method. Researchers found that …

Fifty-Ninth Commencement (Graduate), Sacred Heart University

Commencement Programs

Program for graduate ceremonies, May 6 & 7,  2025.

May 6, 2025 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Can You Hear Me Now? Student Perspectives Of 3d Phenomena-Based Science Teaching Practices, Leshea A. Moncrease

Dissertations

This dissertation presents findings of a self-study that investigated how student input, through reality pedagogy, may inform 3D phenomena-based teaching practices. 3D phenomena-based teaching practices are not new, but teachers are trying to determine how to use this framework to meet the needs of all students. 3D phenomena-based lessons use phenomena to drive instruction using core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices. The goal of using 3D phenomena-based teaching practices is to create 21^st century critical thinkers and problem-solvers who engage in scientific habits. The acquisition of student perceptions through the analysis of student interviews, reflective journal …

2025-05-06 Minutes, Morehead State University. Staff Congress.

Staff Congress Records

Staff Congress meeting minutes from May 6, 2025.

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Challenges Using Developmentally Appropriate Practices In The Classroom, Tamesha Samone Parris

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Early childhood teachers’ understanding of developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is necessary to support children’s development and learning in early childhood settings. The problem was many early childhood teachers experience challenges using DAP to make informed decisions in the classroom to support birth to 3-year-old children’s development and learning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore early childhood teachers’ perspectives on challenges using DAP to make informed decisions to support birth to 3-year-old children’s development and learning in the classroom and what was needed to improve their use of DAP. The conceptual framework for this study was the National …

Back Matter, Harry Denny

The Writing Center Journal

Back Matter for Writing Center Journal 43.1.

Washington State Bar Licensure Task Force Subcommittee On Ethics/Character Fitness Report And Recommendations, Brent Williams-Ruth

Seattle University Law Review Online

The Washington State Bar Licensure Task Force’s Subcommittee on Ethics/Character and Fitness (the Subcommittee) was created at the behest of Brent Williams-Ruth, the representative selected by the President of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA or the Bar) to represent the Board of Governors on the Bar Licensure Task Force. His interest in modifying the Character and Fitness process took root after meeting Tarra Simmons during her experience with the Character and Fitness Board. After the WSBA Character and Fitness Board recommended that Simmons’s application to sit for the bar exam be denied, the Washington Supreme Court reversed that recommendation …

What Is Your Why? An Exploration Of Why Teachers Remain In The Professsion At An Urban Elementary School In The South., Malikah Bennett

Dissertations

This qualitative research investigates the factors affecting teacher retention at a Title I elementary school in the Southern region of the United States, utilizing Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of motivation and hygiene as a framework. This study seeks to identify intrinsic motivators, such as recognition, professional growth, and a sense of purpose, as well as extrinsic hygiene factors like administrative support, work conditions, and compensation, to analyze their influence on teachers' decisions to remain in the profession. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 10 teachers, all possessing five or more years of teaching experience at Cardinal …

Experiences Of Support And Success For Students Of Color In The Midwifery Educational Setting, Laura Jenson

Dissertations and Theses

The United States spends more on healthcare than any other developed country, yet perinatal health outcomes are among the worst, particularly for Black and Indigenous pregnant women and people. Structural and societal racism has contributed greatly to these inequities, and while a diverse perinatal healthcare workforce has the potential to mitigate the impact of pervasive racism, professions such as nurse-midwifery have evolved over time to be predominately white. The purpose of this study is to explore how students of color experience support and apply personal strategies for success in the midwifery educational setting. A basic qualitative study was done using …

The Impact Of Focused Specific Phonemic Awareness Instruction On English Language Learners In The Kindergarten Classroom, Bethany Brewer

Dissertations

This study is about the impact of focused phonemic awareness instruction on English language learners in a Kindergarten classroom. The gaps in early literacy skills for students entering Kindergarten can create long-lasting deficits for students (NAEP, 2022). The purpose of this study is to determine if the engagement and performance of ELL students changes during whole group phonemic awareness and phonics instruction when taught specific skills in small group. The study took place in a Kindergarten classroom with students who have been identified as English Language Learners through ACCESS testing. This qualitative study used interviews with teachers to determine the …

Student Engagement In Ela Choice-Based Core Curriculum: A Case Study Of The Dramatic Writing For Film, Television, And Theater Course, Brian Thomas Clements

Dissertations

This paper describes a case study examining student feelings towards engagement in choice-based core ELA courses and teacher feelings towards student engagement specifically within the Dramatic Writing for Film, Television, and Theater course offered in the state of Georgia. The context of this study focuses on the impact that student agency, choice, and voice have on student engagement from their own perspective and how Invitational Education Theory connects to this impact and the course itself. The case study examines the course, its students, and teachers in two schools in a large, suburban metro Atlanta school district. Through interviews and observations, …

Using Iready To Support Math Intervention After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Marvin Prather

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to research the use of iReady for assisting in growing MAP RIT scores at STEAM Elementary School. This study will use quantitative methods. An ex post facto research design will be used with a causal-comparative approach, which means that a study will investigate potential cause-and-effect relationships between variables by examining existing groups or conditions that have already occurred, without actively manipulating any factors, essentially looking at “after the fact” to see if differences between groups can be linked to a potential causal variable The study examined the effect of the i-Ready Math program on …

Integrating Digital And Narrative Medicine In Modern Healthcare: A Systematic Review, Efthymia Efthymiou

All Works

The increasing integration of digital technologies in healthcare, such as electronic health records, telemedicine, and diagnostic algorithms, improved efficiency but raised concerns about the depersonalization of care. Narrative medicine has emerged as a pedagogical and clinical response to this shift, emphasizing the value of patient stories, socio-cultural contexts, and reflective practice. Understanding how digital tools support, rather than undermine, narrative competencies is critical for developing a more human-centered healthcare education. This review systematically examined empirical and theoretical studies on the integration of digital technologies and narrative medicine within healthcare education. Databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched using …

How College Affordability Has Changed For Different Families, Peter Hinrichs

Employment Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

May 2025 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.