Education Commons^™

Early Childhood Educators’ Experiences Facilitating Learning Of Noncognitive Skills, Amanda Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed through this study is that early childhood educators need help supporting young children in learning noncognitive skills, such as socialization, perseverance, and self-efficacy. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood educators’ experiences facilitating the learning of noncognitive skills, specifically socialization, perseverance, and self-efficacy. The study was grounded in the conceptual frameworks Nagaoka et al.’s noncognitive framework and Stingher’s learning to learn in early childhood framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with eight local early childhood educators who teach 3- and 4-year-olds, who were contacted via email, word of mouth, …

Examining The Relationship Between Teacher Characteristics And African American Vernacular English (Aave): A Quantitative Study, Mary Michelle Porter

Theses & Dissertations

African American Vernacular English (AAVE) is a distinct linguistic variety characterized by unique grammatical and phonological features. Despite its linguistic legitimacy, AAVE is often subject to negative perceptions that can adversely affect the educational experiences of students who speak it. The purpose of this study is to examine elementary school teachers’ attitudes toward AAVE and how these are influenced by demographic factors. Forty-eight teachers from Suffolk, New York, and Houston, Texas, participated in a survey that included demographic questions and the Language Attitude Scale (LAS), a validated instrument for assessing attitudes toward AAVE. Demographic variables included age, race, years of …

Rootless - The Body Remembers What The Mind Has Forgotten, Helena Omana-Zapata

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

In repurposing academic spaces for healing, this project is meant to culminate in an artefact that aligns with decolonial educational practices, focusing on accessibility. In doing so, this project braids multimodality, re-represented history, and testimonio of various genres: personal narrative, Latinx story and resistance, critical examination of history and reproductions of information to depict my experience of detaching from cultural identity through assimilation and acculturation in the United States in education. In what I have called the process of leaving me rootless, I no longer had access to the places, people, identity, or language that established belonging. However, through …

Adaptive Art Teaching Strategies: Empowering Students And Paraprofessionals In The Inclusive Art Classroom, Kameran Dostal

Art 895 Research Papers

In the art room, differentiation for students with exceptional disabilities presents unique challenges. Some art educators teach in self-contained settings (e.g. adaptive art classes), other art educators teach in inclusive art room settings (where students with disabilities are integrated into the art room), and others teach a combination of both. The research on adaptive art programs and adaptive teaching practices has the potential to impact students with disabilities as a piece of advocacy to showcase the impact of the visual arts on their IEP goals and fine motor skills. The intention is that this research re-examines best practices in teaching …

The Art And Science Of Observation: Visual Journaling In A Collaborative Classroom, Jennifer Mercado

Art 895 Research Papers

This case study explores the impact of explicitly teaching observation and visual journaling skills on student retention and comprehension of scientific concepts upon a co-taught science classroom. It aims to measure the impact of collaboration between science and art teachers in ac o-taught science classroom on student outcomes and teaching practices. This research is a case study, which is a qualitative data collection method, of student science observations, analysis, and data in art/science journals. After receiving informed consent, the partnered teachers’ reflections regarding the collaborative process and outcomes will be included. This study is important as it will examine the …

Authentically Assessing Student Learning In A Data Driven School System, Curtis Marolf

Art 895 Research Papers

As educators, we are often tasked with measuring student progress and understanding using standardized testing methods. As a visual arts instructor, I find these testing methods to be antiquated and inadequate for measuring students’ knowledge in the classroom, as they solely focus on an individual’s ability to recognize, recall or repeat factual data. If the goal of a quarterly assessment is to answer the question, “How do we know that the students know what we want them to know?” then standardized assessments are not the answer for the visual arts. The art classroom is a creative and expressive space, where …

Too Much Or Not Enough. The Perceptions And Practices Of Single Mothers Of Color And School Involvement, Moshiena Faircloth

Dissertations - ALL

ABSTRACT Family involvement varies based on family structure, creating challenges for single mothers of color in engaging with schools. These mothers, particularly in urban settings, often require specific supports to facilitate participation in their children’s education. Understanding their barriers is crucial for fostering inclusive family involvement practices. Many marginalized women's experiences remain unheard, making it essential to address this gap and develop strategies that better support their engagement. This study examines how district and school-level efforts impact family involvement for single mothers of color, particularly in urban schools. This qualitative study explores the experiences of four single mothers—two of Latina …

From Grief To Reconstruction: From Traditional Community To Modern Community, Zhen Wang

Theses - ALL

Death is an inevitable reality of life, and grief, as an emotional response to death, is a universal and complex psychological experience. This study explores the role of the community in coping with death and grief. It analyzes how traditional culture and modern digital technology help individuals achieve emotional repair and social reconstruction through different forms of support. By combining psychological and sociological theories, including Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's “Five Stages of Grief” and Arnold Van Genep's “Ritual Transition theory,” the emotional transformation mechanism in the grieving process has been revealed. This thesis deeply analyzes two traditional rituals, the Zhongyuan festival in …

Muslim Students In K-12 Experiencing Their Faith In The Us Schools, Abdulilah M. Al-Dubai

Dissertations - ALL

This study explores Muslim students' experiences of faith in a K-12 school setting in the United States. The research questions focus on how Muslim students experience their faith in K-12 schools in the United States, their challenges regarding their faith practices, and what support influences their K-12 success. The study aims to highlight the voices of Muslim students and provide educators with valuable insights from their experiences, hoping to assist in creating an equitable educational atmosphere that supports their success and fosters a sense of belonging. Eight students, five females and three males, participated in the study; the participants are …

A Prism Of Blackness At Historically Black Institutions: Experiences Of Hbcu Students With Marginalized Racial, Gender, And Sexuality Identities, Gaelle Amazan

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is a qualitative study of how Black individuals with marginalized gender and sexuality identities (MGSIs) who currently attend or recently graduated from HBCUs make meaning of their campus environment, and how HBCUs can be more inclusive for them. Data from this study came from interviews with seven participants representing four public and two private HBCUs from the Middle Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States in the year 2022. The dissertation explains research on the significance of HBCUs and the students who attend these institutions. Black Feminist Theory, Black Trans Feminism, Queer Theory, Quare Theory and Intersectionality …

Essential Knowledge For Serving Bilingual Youth: The Perspectives Of Adult Former English Learners, Maneka Deanna Brooks

Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study, framed by dignity-focused language policy and intersectional anti-adultism, investigates how 74 adults misclassified as English learners (ELs) during U.S. K-12 education conceptualize essential knowledge for educating bilingual students. Through semi-structured interviews, participants stressed two key areas for schools that serve bilingual students: recognizing students’ nuanced linguistic histories and acknowledging students as education partners. The findings emphasize centering impacted individuals’ perspectives, advocating for eliminating racial bias in EL policy implementation, and addressing institutionalized adultism in EL policy. Implications include the need for professional learning, policy, and practices prioritizing EL youths’ perspectives.

Becoming A Counselor: Applying Critical Phenomenology To Uncover Narratives From Black Women Counselors About Wounds And Healing, Linzy Sunshine Andre

Dissertations - ALL

The purpose of this Critical Phenomenological dissertation study was to explore the lived experiences of becoming a counselor for Black women with self-identified personal histories with woundedness and engagement in processes of healing. In doing so, the experiences of becoming a counselor were explored for 11 Black women counselors at various points in their professional counselor identity development journey (e.g., counselors-in-training, practicing counselors, pre- and post-doctoral counselor educators). Data collection followed Seidman’s critical-in-depth interviewing model and the three main areas of Critical Phenomenological inquiry – The Life History, Experiences in Details, and Reflection on Meaning. Three individual semi-structured interviews were …

Black Girls Graduating High School: Advanced Courses, Career Technical Education, And Extra Curricular Opportunities, Tara Michelle Gourdine-Jennings

Dissertations - ALL

Abstract This dissertation examines the impact of advanced coursework, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and extracurricular participation on the graduation outcomes of Black girls in a midsized urban school district in Central New York. Grounded in Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit), this study addresses how systemic barriers and inequities influence access to educational opportunities that are often gatekeepers for postsecondary success. Despite the longstanding underrepresentation of Black girls in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and STEM-based CTE pathways, this study highlights the academic and social benefits of these experiences when access is equitably provided and supported. Using district-level data …

Strategic Audit: Wells Fargo & Company, Nathan Q. Gaughan

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

No abstract provided.

Teacher Perceptions Of Shifts In School Culture In A Professional Learning Community: A Case Study, Ann Bernadine Tan

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This case study explored elementary teachers' perceptions of cultural shifts in their school as a result of efforts to establish an effective professional learning community (PLC). It also chronicles the decisions and actions taken by the division leader which contributed to the development of social and structural resources that leveraged the readiness for change among individuals and groups in the school. Many studies examine attributes of professional learning communities and give recommendations for its successful implementation as a means of school reform. Drawing mainly from DuFour et al. (2016), Bolam et al.’s (2005) conceptual framework of professional learning communities (PLCs), …

Ua35/7 Class Of 2025 Commencement, Wku Gatton Academy Of Mathematics & Science

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program for the WKU Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science with list of graduates.

Navigating Structural Behaviors To Education: A Qualitative Analysis Of Attendance, Behavior, And Academic Outcomes Among African American Scholars In Grades K-5, Tony E. Howard

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

This qualitative study explores the structural behaviors within public K-5 education that affect African American students' attendance, behavior, and academic outcomes. With a persistent achievement gap disproportionately affecting African American learners, the research investigates how systemic inequities and institutional practices hinder equitable access to quality education. Using a phenomenological approach, the study draws on the lived experiences of educators, administrators, and support staff across several school districts to understand the nuanced challenges African American students face.

Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and document analysis, yielding rich insights into how disciplinary policies, culturally unresponsive teaching practices, and inadequate support services contribute …

The Perceptions Of Junior High School Students And Parents On Parental Involvement, Hope E. Bratton

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in perceptions between junior high school students and their parents regarding the level of parental involvement in their child's education using Goulet’s Student-Rated Parent School Involvement Questionnaire (SR-PSIQ). It was to educate them about the positive effects that their child’s education has, as well as the negative ones. Educational achievement is built by a team of members from the school district and the guardian working together for the child’s best interests. The study included Jersey Junior High Independent School District participants in Jersey, Texas, and Lizard Hill …

Empowering Novice School Leaders: The Impact Of The Principal Mentorship Through The Beginning Administrators Induction Program In Arkansas, Yvone L. West

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

The role of principal mentorship is critical in shaping the success and retention of school leaders, yet the effectiveness of mentorship programs remains an area of ongoing exploration. This study examines the impact of the Beginning Administrator’s Induction(BAI) program in Arkansas, with a particular focus on principal mentorship. Grounded in theories of adult learning and leadership development, this research investigates how structured mentorship influences novice principals’ ability to navigate the complexities of school leadership, impact student achievement, and sustain long-term success in their roles. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, data were collected from principals who participated in the induction program. …

Perceptions Of Professional Learning Communities By K-5 Alternative Licensure Teachers In Arkansas Elementary Schools, Brandy A. Howell

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

ABSTRACT

PERCEPTIONS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES BY K-5 ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE TEACHERS IN ARKANSAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Brandy Howell

The ongoing teacher shortage in the United States has prompted an increased reliance on alternative licensure pathways to fill vacancies, particularly in elementary education. Alternatively licensed teachers bring diverse experiences and backgrounds to the classroom, but their professional development and integration into school communities remain critical challenges. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have emerged as a widely adopted model for teacher collaboration and professional growth; however, little research has explored how alternatively licensed K-5 teachers perceive their participation in these communities. This qualitative phenomenological …

"Exploring Effective Practices For Inclusive Education: Impact On Student Achievement In Elementary Classrooms", Yolanda Harris

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

This study explores educators’ experiences with inclusive education, focusing on the strategies, challenges, and support structures that influence successful implementation in the classroom. Using qualitative interviews with general education and special education teachers, the study identifies key themes that shape inclusive practices: Collaboration and Teamwork, Challenges in Inclusion, Student Outcomes and Growth, Differentiation and Scaffolding, Administrative Support, and Resources and Professional Development. Findings indicate that effective collaboration between general education and special education teachers, especially through co-teaching and joint planning, is critical to fostering an inclusive learning environment. Despite the positive impacts on student academic and social outcomes, teachers face …

Science Of Reading Professional Development: The Perceptions Of Secondary Teachers In Arkansas, Teresa R. Moka

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

ABSTRACT SCIENCE OF READING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE PERCEPTIONS OF SECONDARY TEACHERS IN ARKANSAS

Teresa R. Moka

The study addresses the critical issue of low literacy proficiency among secondary students in Arkansas, where National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data reveals declining reading scores. Despite scientific consensus on reading instruction, many teachers lack professional development in evidence-based reading strategies, particularly at the secondary level. Although Arkansas secondary teachers have received initial Science of Reading (SoR) professional development from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the perceptions of secondary teachers regarding SoR professional development is not well documented. The purpose …

Empowering Student Leaders: A Collaborative Approach To Professional Development In Higher Education, Kasandra J. Vela

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my research was to explore how integrating students as partners in professional development enhances student leader training. The study addressed gaps in student participation in training session planning, guided by two research questions: How can integrating students as partners in student leader professional development initiatives contribute to training success? And, what insights can be gained from including undergraduate student leaders in curriculum development for professional training? Research cycles included a survey, workshops, and reflective journaling. Themes that emerged were the importance of staff–student collaboration, student empowerment as co-creators, and the value of diverse perspectives. Findings showed that …

Empowering Voices: The Impact Of Collective Storytelling Within College Support Programs, Sara Rock

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The Torero Renaissance Scholars Program (TRSP) supports undergraduate and graduate students who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or who are emancipated minors or in legal guardianship. My action research aimed to explore and improve TRSP practices related to sharing personal narratives, community building, and fostering mutual understanding between students, campus, and community partners. Using an action research model focused on community engagement, I conducted three research cycles involving narrative inquiry-based individual interviews and surveys to evaluate group activities. Findings revealed a tension around sharing personal stories and highlighted the importance of self-authorship and holistic mentorship. Interviews showed students prioritize resources …

Spring Commencement, 2025, Marshall University

Marshall University Commencement

Program for the Commencement of Marshall University, Saturday, May 10, 2025 held at the Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, West Virginia.

2025 Spring - Commencement Program, Office Of The Registar, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Commencement Ceremonies and Programs

No abstract provided.

Fifty-Ninth Commencement (Undergraduate), Sacred Heart University

Commencement Programs

Program for undergraduate ceremonies, May 10, 2025.

Rays Of Resilience:Tbri® Nurture Group© Intervention For Improved Social-Emotional Development In Head Start, Madison Carlson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Children exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) face challenges that impact their developmental trajectory, family dynamics, and occupational engagement (CDC, 2021a). Rays of Resilience is a trauma-informed occupational therapy capstone project designed to enhance social-emotional skills in preschoolers at a rural Head Start program guided by the TBRI® framework and the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model. Using Nurture Group© small group intervention, collaboration with staff, and engagement with caregivers, this project targeted social-emotional development and relationship building in children with a higher risk of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Fifteen students participated in weekly lessons focused on self-regulation, identifying emotions, and communicating wants …

A Case Study Of Ungrading On Student Learning In Higher Education, Brooke M. Creviston

Honors Thesis

This qualitative case study investigates the impact of ungrading in higher education at University A (pseudonym). The participants included seven students and three professors actively involved in ungraded courses. Positive outcomes are reported by both students and professors. Student participants felt that ungrading offered them more ownership in learning and less fear of making mistakes because they could apply feedback to improve their work rather than simply receiving numeric scores. The interviewed professors shared that ungrading allowed them to hold meaningful conversations with their students and helped them develop intrinsic motivation with academic material. Overall, in comparison to traditionally graded …

El Podcast Como Herramienta Pedagógica Entre Docentes Del Nivel Superior En Una Escuela Privada Del Este De Puerto Rico, Lorell Marie Varela Morales

Theses and Dissertations

El objeto del estudio se centró en comprender la disposición de los docentes de nivel

superior hacia el uso de podcasts como recurso pedagógico en una escuela del este de Puerto Rico. Este análisis abordó las percepciones, actitudes y factores que influyen en la

aceptación de esta innovadora herramienta educativa. Se identificaron los beneficios

percibidos de los podcasts como herramienta pedagógica, así como los desafíos y

preocupaciones asociados con su integración en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje.

Los modelos teóricos que sustentan este estudio se basaron en la revisión de especialistas

en innovación y aceptación tecnológica por parte de los docentes …