Education Commons^™

Self-Care As An Indicator Of Success For The Undergraduate Music Education Major, Sonya Lynn Comer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite rising awareness of stress and mental health issues, many undergraduate music education majors struggle to connect self-care to resilience in personal and professional areas of their lives. Students may perceive self-care as an extra luxury, if they have time after their work is completed, but they fail to recognize self-care as a potential source of energy, creativity, and joy for their work. The missing self-care component creates an internal deficit hindering students’ ability to bring their best self to the classroom, their student teaching placements, and interpersonal relationships. Omitting self-care compounds issues caused by their multi-faceted workload leaving students …

Sustaining The Future Of The Local Church By Equipping Ministry Leaders Through A Development Program, James Wesley Harrison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation-in-praxis addressed the pressing need for intentional leadership development within local churches, focusing on preparing the head, heart, and hands of aspiring ministry leaders to fulfill the calling God has placed on them. The rationale for this praxis project stemmed from the observed shortage of trained ministry leaders in many local churches. The project emphasized that many churches fail to implement deliberate efforts to equip ministry leaders to fulfill the church's mission. The Legacy Leadership Ministry Training program served as a viable solution to this problem. The purpose of this project was to develop and implement a comprehensive training …

Exploring The Role Of Professional Development In Reviving The Passion Of Teaching: A Case Study, Brandi Renee Cook

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine professional development as a means of restoring passionate teaching for in-service K-12 teachers at Cresthill Public Schools (CPS). The theory guiding the study was the Learning-Oriented Leadership Model, as it explores how professional development fosters continuous teacher growth and retention. The central research question for the study was: How do teachers describe the ways professional development may help them stay in the profession? The study utilized a qualitative case study design. A purposive sample of 15 teachers who participated in required professional development was selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, …

Predicting Success In Intermediate Algebra: The Role Of Gender, Race, Pert Scores, Homework Grade, Tutoring Hours, And Self-Efficacy In Math, Florencia Sepulveda

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, predictive, correlational study was to examine if community college students' success in Intermediate Algebra can be predicted from a linear combination of gender, race, PERT score, online homework grade, hours of tutoring attended during the semester, and Math Skills Self-Efficacy Assessment score. The study employed binomial logistic regression to analyze data from 173 students enrolled in Intermediate Algebra. Results revealed that the model, while statistically non-significant, χ²(13) = 8.648, p = .799, explained 6.5% of the variance in course success and correctly classified 62% of cases. Despite these findings, no predictor variables had a significant …

Curriculum As A Tool To Enhance Self-Efficacy And Instructional Practices: A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Elementary Math Teachers, Twana P. Young

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of elementary math teachers to investigate their use of curriculum as a tool to enhance self-efficacy and instructional practices in second through fourth grade classrooms. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory, particularly the tenet of self-efficacy, as it addresses the confidence teachers have as they enact the curriculum and instructional practices. Teacher self-efficacy is both shaped by and shapes their application of what they learn from the professional learning embedded in the curriculum. This study was designed to explore the central research question, …

The Influence Of Homework On The Learning And Achievement Of Middle School Students In Southern Maryland: A Multiple-Case Study, Andrea J. Williams

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore middle school teachers’ perceptions of how homework influenced academic achievement and student learning in Southern Maryland. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s theory of social knowledge. Bandura suggests that observation, modeling, and role-play are significant in how individuals learn because these direct experiences shift one’s environment. In this study, 14 middle school teachers in Southern Maryland were interviewed, seven of whom were employed at a school with the standard practice of homework, and seven worked at a school with a “No Homework” policy. Data collection, interviews, and questionnaires were …

Early Childhood Music Education By Formal Design: Idea To Experience, Ladislao D. Prado

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Academic readiness, measurable growth, and reflective transferable knowledge are hallmarks of a successful music classroom. Yet sound pedagogical and curricular practices are the catalyst for achieving this success. Across the U.S., music programs are thriving in settings where these themes coalesce, save for one: the early childhood music program. At present, no comprehensive music program frameworks exist for this learning environment. Thus, this study aims to identify gaps in early childhood music education literature and national pedagogical and curricular practices, determine why formal music instruction is deficient for this demographic, and examine ways to address this learning community’s needs. As …

The Effects Of Modern Band Performance On Enhancing Confidence And Emotional Maturation In Fifth-Grade Students, Julia M. Wetherhold

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Current research notes that participation in modern band general music instruction elicits improvements in students’ sense of inclusion in school; however, it is yet to be determined if additional benefits of modern band implementation occur. This applied study aims to investigate the potential for a causal comparison between fifth-grade students’ confidence levels and emotional maturity after exposure to modern band instructional techniques and performance compared to fifth-grade students engaged in music education with an emphasis on vocal instruction. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were implemented. Data were collected and analyzed by surveying thirty-seven fifth-grade students reporting their confidence levels and …

A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Elementary Educators’ Implementation Of Grade Level Expectations To Students With Disabilities, Clinetta Monique Pierre

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This hermeneutic phenomenological study describes elementary educators' experiences and self-efficacy in implementing grade-level expectations for students with disabilities significantly below grade level in Georgia public schools' inclusive classroom environment. Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory guides this study which is grounded in the social cognitive theory. According to the self-efficacy theory, people are the masters of their own objectives, choices, and fate. The participants included 10 elementary public school general education or content area teachers who are one half of a co-teaching partnership. Individual interviews, focus groups, and blogs were used to collect data in order to investigate the nature of general …

Teacher Perspective And De-Escalation Of Aggressive And Disruptive Behaviors In Early Elementary Students Who Come To School At Risk Of Academic Failure: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca L. Thurman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological research study was to understand the experiences of early elementary educators with the rising negative behaviors, such as aggression and classroom disruptions, in their current classrooms within a progressive and growing school district in northwest Georgia. The theory that guided this study was Bandura’s social learning theory. This study addressed the question: How do educators perceive, understand possible causes, and utilize research-based programs and strategies to de-escalate and improve students’ aggressive and disruptive behaviors in the elementary classroom? This study focused on individual and focus group interviews, as well as a teacher behavior …

Factors Influencing Student Motivations And Experiences In Stem Course Office Hours, Gabriella R. Dauber, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Office hours are a part of nearly all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, with many academic and affective benefits for students who attend. However, despite their ubiquity, there has only been limited past work examining the sources of knowledge students draw from to shape their perceptions of office hours, as well as the factors that influence students' experiences in STEM course office hours. Here, we conducted semistructured interviews with 20 students enrolled in an introductory STEM course to investigate what motivates students to attend STEM course office hours, the factors that shape their experiences in office hours, and …

Exploring The Relationship Between Students' Attitudes Toward Mathematics And Mathematics Achievement In The Uae, Nadeia Alalawi

International Journal for Research in Education

This study presents the relationship between students' attitudes toward mathematics and mathematics achievement in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 data. The target population is grade 8 UAE students, and the sample consisted of 22,334 eighth-grade students. The researcher used the variables "like learning mathematics," "confident in mathematics," and "value mathematics" to represent the independent variable, students' attitudes toward mathematics. The dependent variable, achievement in mathematics, contains four content domains (algebra, geometry, data probability, and numbers) and three cognitive domains (knowing, applying, and reasoning). After conducting regression analysis, the researcher …

The Degree To Which Science Teachers In The Sultanate Of Oman Practice Social -Emotional Learning Skills In The Classroom Situation From The Students’ Point Of View., Abdullah K. Ambusaidi Prof., Mohammed Shahat Dr, Huda M. Al-Dayri Dr., Abir M. Al-Busaidi

International Journal for Research in Education

The study aimed to reveal the degree to which science teachers in the Sultanate of Oman practice social-emotional learning skills in the classroom from the students’ point of views. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach to achieve its aims based on a questionnaire which consisted of comprising (27) statements distributed over five main domins (enhancing self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, social relations, and responsible decision-making). The reliability coefficient reached of the questionnaire is (0.939). The study was adminstered to a sample of (1470) male and female students from the ninth and tenth grades in the six Omani governorates. The results …

Utilizing Infographics To Enhance Some Continuous Learning Skills For The Educator To Keep Pace With Labor Market Developments Using Electronic Resources, Samah A. Marzouk Prof.

International Journal for Research in Education

The research aimed to identify the Effectiveness of employing infographics to develop some continuous learning skills among female student teachers. The sample consisted of (60) second-year students at the Faculty of Early Childhood Education, divided into two groups: an experimental group (30) and a control group (30). The research followed the experimental method, and the researcher used a scale to measure continuous learning skills using electronic resources for the student teachers, along with a training program that employed infographics to develop continuous learning skills. The application lasted for (two months).

The results revealed that there were statistically significant differences between …

The Effectiveness Of An Electronic Training Program In Developing The Teaching Skills And Strategies Of Student Teachers Specializing In Islamic Studies And Their Attitudes Towards It, Maali M. Alabdulhadi, Kalthoum M. Alkandari

International Journal for Research in Education

This research aimed to identify the effectiveness of an electronic training program in developing the teaching skills and strategies of student teachers specializing in Islamic studies and their attitudes towards it. The semi-experimental approach was used. The study was applied to a sample of (39) student teachers in the academic year 2022-2023. There were (19) student teachers in the experimental group, and (20) student teachers in the control group. An electronic training program was prepared and available in the engine of the E-Learning Center of Kuwait University. The two tools were used for the study were: an achievement test in …

Students’ Perceptions Of Using Video As A Tool To Acquire Teaching Practices In Early Childhood Teachers’ Education Programs, Hanadi F. Alothman Dr

International Journal for Research in Education

This qualitative study sought to ascertain early childhood student teachers' perspectives regarding the utilization of teaching videos, together with their associated advantages and disadvantages. Rich data was collected through reflective papers from 56 students and three focus groups (20 students). The participants were female student teachers enrolled in the Department of Early Childhood at King Saud University during the 2023–2024 academic year. The study concluded that the purpose of using teaching videos was limited to clarification and representations of practice. The findings also showed that the students’ role during video presentation revolved around watching, generating ideas and activities, and focusing …

Metaverse Technology-Based Educational Program And Its Effectiveness On Developing Digital Future Skills And Enhancing Them Among University Students, Abdulaziz F. Al-Osail

International Journal for Research in Education

This research aimed to design an educational program based on Metaverse technology and measure its effectiveness on developing digital future skills and enhancing them among university students in KSA. To achieve this purpose, a random sample of (40) preparatory-year students from King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa was selected, along with (6) students from the research group for a case study. The research employed a descriptive method to design the program, develop its materials and tools, an experimental method with a quasi-experimental design to measure effectiveness, and a case study approach to enrich the research with qualitative data.

Quantitative data were …

Graduate Students’ Use Of Artificial Intelligence Applications In Scientific Research: Prevalence And Association With Perceived Impostor Syndrome, Iman A. Almohammadi, Eradah O. Hamad, Bashayr A. Alqarni, Malak A. Alzahrani, Jwanaa A. Aljohani

International Journal for Research in Education

The current study aimed to explore the attitudes of graduate students towards the use of artificial intelligence applications in scientific research and the association with the prevalence and intensity of the perceived impostor syndrome among the students. The study sample consisted of 575 graduate students from several universities in Saudi Arabia. The researchers utilized a mixed-method approach. The scale of Attitude towards AI Technology and the Perceived Impostor Syndrome Scale were administered. The results showed a high positive inclination towards the use of artificial intelligence among graduate students, with 74.3% of students using AI applications in scientific research. The most …

Developing A Model For Utilizing Generative Artificial Intelligence In Project-Based Learning Within Teacher Preparation Programs And Its Impact On Innovative Outputs And Passion, Zainab Hassan Elsallamy Prof.

International Journal for Research in Education

This study aimed to develop a model for integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into project-based learning for pre-service teachers and examine its impact on their innovative outputs and passion for AI. The sample consisted of 86 third-year pre-service teachers enrolled in the Teaching Science in English programs at the Faculty of Women, Ain Shams University. The experimental group included 51 physics pre-service teachers who engaged with the proposed AI-based model within the Educational Technology course, while the control group comprised 35 chemistry pre-service teachers who received traditional instruction. Both groups produced an educational project based on the course requirements. A …

Homeplace As A Methodology Of Care: Conducting Critical Qualitative Research With 2slgbtqia+ Youth In Higher Education, K. Rende Mendoza, Ferial Pearson, Isa Manhart

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

This paper addresses the alarming trend of policies and legislative actions targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and affirmation/accessibility (DEIA) efforts in higher education, particularly those affecting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. These policies not only pose a direct threat to the physical and psychological safety of marginalized students but also undermine the institutional support systems essential for their personal and academic development. Authored by a nonbinary undergraduate and two 2SLGBTQIA+ teacher education researchers, our paper explores student-led critical qualitative research as a countermeasure to these regressive policies. Building from bell hooks' conception of homeplace, we offer our suggestions for establishing safe, supportive, and liberatory …

Pro-Blackness In Early Childhood Education: Diversifying Curriculum And Pedagogy In K-3 Classrooms, David Sandles Jr.

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

In the book Pro-Blackness in Early Childhood Education: Diversifying Curriculum and Pedagogy in K-3 Classrooms, the authors advocate for an educational framework centered on Black cultural principles and values, specifically addressing the impact of anti-Blackness in educational spaces. This text emphasizes the importance of incorporating African Diaspora Literacy (ADL) to support Black children's academic and cultural growth, while rejecting deficit perspectives often shaped by white-dominated educational theories. It highlights the necessity of an Afrocentric approach to curriculum and pedagogy that incorporates historical consciousness, cultural dimensions, and language diversity. By focusing on pro-Black pedagogies, such as the African American Language …

Disproportionality Of African Americans In Texas Special Education, Catherine Boggs, Jemimah Young

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

Research has indicated that historically, African Americans received disproportionate special education services (Fish, 2019; Sabnis et al., 2020; Sullivan & Osher, 2019; Watkins & Kurtz, 2001). This is specifically problematic in states and cities with smaller proportions of African Americans, such as Texas. Data indicate that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) remains non-compliant with the implementation of its Corrective Action Plan (CAP), which was issued federally by the Office of Special Education Programs due to restricting the percentage of students qualifying for special education (Morgan et al., 2023). The purpose of this study was to categorize, quantify, and examine the …

Teaching Teachers To Stand Up: Fostering Moral Reasoning And Courage Through Neo-Abolitionist Pedagogies In Multicultural Education, Aaron A. Baker, Liz Potter-Nelson

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

In today’s increasingly polarized educational landscape, debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have reached a critical juncture. Anti-DEI policies and legislation are not only reshaping educational policy but are also producing tangible adverse effects on teacher behavior—often creating chilling effects that undermine authentic multicultural education. In light of these challenges, this article contends that teacher preparation programs must fundamentally reorient their curricula to cultivate robust moral reasoning and moral courage among preservice teachers. By integrating theoretical frameworks such as Kohlberg’s theory of moral development and Rest’s Four-Component Model with the transformative principles of neo-abolitionist teaching, we propose a comprehensive …

Language Teaching In Palestine: Leveraging Cultural Sustainability Through A Video Project, Layth R. Awwad, Imad Abu Dayyeh, Anita L. Bright

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

In recognition of the ways learners need to see themselves present within their curricula, and in response to the ongoing opportunity to leverage digital media, through this paper, we describe the creation, implementation, and refinement of a video project, included across multiple English language courses at Bethlehem University in the West Bank of Palestine. With cultural sustainability at the center, through qualitative methodology (Maxwell, 2013), and calling specifically upon sociocultural theory (Bakhtin, 1984) as well as figured worlds (Holland et al., 1998), we offer perspectives informed by a range of life experiences and standpoints. This study of what students and …

2025 May 22 - Academic Council Agenda And Minutes, Academic Council, East Tennessee State University

Academic Council Agenda and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Swosu Department Of Psychology History, Janice L. Sperle

Department of Psychology

SWOSU DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY HISTORY
1948-2025

By Janice L. Sperle

A Resource-Based Perspective Of Stem Career Development: A Latent Class Analysis, Erika Ann Schemmel

Dissertations and Theses

Through technological developments and the growing concerns around climate change, the need and demand for electric vehicles has been steadily increasing. A trained and qualified STEM workforce is required to meet these demands, yet standard STEM education may not be sufficient. The STEM development program centered in the present study is a collegiate workforce development program that provides North American students with training and hands-on experience in the engineering of electric vehicles. Drawing from central principles of COR theory, the present study explores the experiences of students within the program utilizing a resource-based perspective and a mixed-methods approach. First, the …

Motivations To Learn English Among First-Year Undergraduate Chinese Students, Yunyu Chen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the motivations to learn English among first-year Chinese undergraduates enrolled at an American university in the southeastern United States and it is essentially grounded in theories such as Self-Determination Theory and Achievement Goal Theory. It addresses a central research question about how is motivations to learn English shaped by external and internal factors among the first-year undergraduate Chinese students? Recognizing that many Chinese students experience low levels of interest and confidence in English, the study explores internal and external factors that shape motivations, including emotional engagement, cultural and academic expectations, and supportive roles played by teachers and …

Teachers’ Perspectives On The Obstacles To Implementing Inquiry-Based Learning In Secondary Science Classrooms, Gabrielle Gonzales

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The research problem for this study was that teachers are inconsistent in using inquiry-based instruction in secondary science classrooms. Guided by Vygotsky’s theory of constructivism, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore teachers’ perspectives of the obstacles to implementing inquiry-based instruction in secondary science classrooms and what they believe will be needed to allow them to overcome these obstacles. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 certified, current Grade 8 to 12 teachers within the United States who had experience and familiarity with inquiry-based instruction. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis with open coding. The five themes …

Vocational Education Leaders’ Perceptions Of Institutional Readiness For Online And Blended Learning, Gennette P. Clacken

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Recent studies highlight institutional readiness as critical to the successful adoption of online and blended learning (OBL) in higher education; however, limited research in Jamaican vocational institutions presents a risk of implementation failure and reduced return on investment for stakeholders. This basic qualitative study explored how institutional leaders in Jamaican vocational education institutions describe institutional readiness for OBL adoption and implementation. Grounded in facilitating conditions as a construct of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and guided by the blended learning adoption framework, the study focused on the readiness of institutional strategy, structure, and support. Semistructured interviews …