Education Commons^™

Incrimination Of Carlton Lewis, Kaia L. Fox

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

On February 7, 1990, Cheryl Coleman was found dead in her apartment, sexually assaulted and beaten to death with a 2x4 piece of wood. Carlton Lewis became one the of few suspects in the case. Despite providing a statement that he was at his home at the time of the murder and the word of his wife, a suspect named William McKee was interviewed and said he saw Lewis go to a house on the corner of the street with Coleman. After McKee was interviewed, Lewis, who was illiterate at the time, was forced into a false confession by being …

25 Years For A Crime He Didn’T Commit: Anthony Wright, Caleb D. Purvis

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Anthony Wright was found guilty of the rape and murder of an elderly woman in 1991 in Philadelphia. He was then convicted in 1993 (Kaur, 2020). Anthony Wright spent the next 25 years in prison before becoming the 344th person to be exonerated by DNA in the US (Innocence Project, 2025). Upon the re-examination of the evidence found at the crime scene, a new suspect was identified, but had already passed away, preventing any criminal charges from being filed against them. Anthony Wright also filed a civil lawsuit on January 17, 2017, after his exoneration (Wright v. Philadelphia, 2017).

Examining The Evidence: The Case Of Marcellus Williams And The Pursuit Of Justice, Star Parham

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The case of Marcellus Williams, the case of a Missouri man killed on death row, has sparked many legal and ethical concerns. Those concerns are wrongful convictions, forensic evidence, and the orchestration of the death penalty in the United States. Willimas was convicted in 2001 for the murder of Felicia Gayle based on evidence of circumstances and testimony from informants. Despite all of that Missouri officials pursued the execution, and he was killed.

Investigating Consumer Preferences For Laptop Computers Using Choice-Based Conjoint (Cbc) Analysis, Xiaoyi Yan

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study employs a choice-based joint (CBC) analysis to investigate college students' preferences for laptop computers. Data was collected from 49 students at a university in the Midwestern part of the United States. The authors focused on five attributes: brand, price, screen size, performance, and battery life. The results show that branding, especially Apple, is the most critical factor, indicating strong brand loyalty or perceived quality. Performance and battery life followed as most important and can be affected by high usage. Conversely, the impact of screen size is minimal, suggesting that students are prioritizing portability and functionality over larger displays. …

Creating A Story Stroll, Maryssa L. Schlaefli

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The Larned Story Stroll is an interactive outdoor literacy initiative designed to promote reading and physical activity among children and families. Located along the perimeter trail of Larned City Pond in Larned, KS, the Story Stroll features a series of podiums displaying pages from children's books. Each podium also presents questions to encourage meaningful discussions between children and their guardians as they walk the trail. Funded by the Neighborhood Youth Grant from Golden Belt Coop, the project aims to foster a love for reading, provide a safe space for youth engagement, and strengthen community ties. Stories featured in the Stroll …

Study Of Asf1a Protein’S Biological Significance In Arabidopsis Thaliana Via Phenotypic Manifestations Of Crispr/Cas Induced A. Thaliana Asf1a Mutagenesis, Yue Fan, Tara Phelps-Durr

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

ANTI-SILENCING FUNCTION 1A (ASF1a) is a multifunctional protein involved in pivotal cellular processes. In plants, ASF1a interacts with HIRA to participate in KNOX genes silencing. To further characterize how ASF1a regulates gene expression, a CRISPR CAS 9 vector was created and ready to be transferred into Arabidopsis thaliana to induce mutations in the 3’ region of the A. thaliana ASF1a gene that corresponds to the ASF histone chaperone protein domain. We hypothesized that phyllotactic alterations will take place as a result of the mutations.

Manipulation And Power: A Comparative Analysis Of Toxic Leadership In Mean Girls And The Hunger Games, Madeline G. Schlyer, Kerstin R. Brown

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project employs a qualitative media analysis to compare two toxic leaders, Regina George from Mean Girls (2004) and President Snow from The Hunger Games series. Both characters exhibit manipulative leadership tactics to maintain control in different social contexts. Regina, the dominant queen bee of her high school, leads The Plastics through emotional manipulation and fear tactics. She employs a transactional leadership style, offering social rewards for compliance and punishing lack of agreement with exclusion. Her leadership is rooted in a need for validation, using her followers to reinforce her own status. In contrast, President Snow rules through violence and …

A Year In Review: Updates & Opportunities From The Generative Ai Task Force, Magdalene Moy

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This poster presents the work for 2024-2025 of the Generative AI Task Force at Fort Hays State University, a multidisciplinary initiative dedicated to enhancing AI literacy and engagement across campus and the broader community. Our mission is grounded in three foundational pillars: education and outreach, policy development, and research and future careers. Over the past year, we have launched community workshops, AI literacy initiatives, and interdisciplinary research projects to foster responsible and informed use of generative AI tools.

This poster also highlights our efforts to identify both the opportunities and challenges of generative AI within academic contexts. A major outcome …

Projection Mapping Augmented Reality Golf Simulator, Honesty Beaton, Jonathan T. Hunnacutt, Juan D. Guzman-Duran

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Our Augmented Reality (AR) Golf Simulator combines projection mapping, computer vision, motion tracking, and game development to create an interactive mini golf experience played entirely on the floor. Using a series of short-throw projectors, we display a virtual mini-golf course on a flat surface. A player uses a real putter to "hit" a virtual ball, which responds in real time thanks to our custom tracking and physics system. This project allows players to experience mini-golf in a digital environment while still using real-world actions. By developing a physics-based motion tracking system, we make the gameplay feel natural and intuitive. This …

Corrupted Kings And Heroes: Toxic Leadership Of Scar And Homelander, Brandon Mckenna

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project uses a qualitative media analysis to look at toxic leadership through a comparative study of two characters: Scar, villainous usurper from “The Lion King,” and Homelander, publicly revered leader of superheroes and private psychopath from “The Boys.” These characters, despite their distinct contexts, exhibit toxic leadership styles. Drawing upon Haslam et al.’s (2020) "The New Psychology of Leadership," this analysis examines the context of their rule, their manipulation of identity, and their impact on followers. Scar’s thirst for power by any means necessary demonstrates a leader who manipulates others for personal gain. Meanwhile, Homelander’s narcissism and greed for …

Fcrh Honors Program: 2024-25 Year In Review, Fcrh Honors Program

FCRH Honors Program Newsletters and Reports

No abstract provided.

Digitizing Pre-1978 Dissertations At Binghamton University Libraries, Erin Rushton, Caitlin Holton, Jamey Mcdermott

Library Scholarship

In 2023, Binghamton University Libraries initiated a project to digitize its pre-1978 dissertations and make them available in its institutional repository. This Communication on Practice provides an overview of the key decisions made before embarking on the project, the workflow, and the challenges encountered. We drew upon the experiences and lessons learned from other institutions to guide our process, and hope this paper will serve as a resource for those considering similar projects at their institutions.

Resilience: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Resilience In Charter Schoolteachers, Shayla M. Johnson

Education Doctoral

Concerns about teacher attrition, retention, stress, and burnout are persistent and troublesome in educational settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of charter schoolteachers’ resilience and its association with longevity in teaching. This study found that teachers attribute their resilience to personal and professional relationships and supportive leadership, all grounded in their personal core values and commitment to student success. Adjusting teaching methods, utilizing self-care practices, and advocating for needed resources help charter schoolteachers adapt to challenges and maintain a sense of control and self-efficacy. A new model, resilience-informed support and empowerment twice in teaching …

Civically Engaged 4-H Ambassadors: A Program Designed To Bridge Youth Leaders With Local Policymakers, J. "Clay" Hurdle, Sage V. Eichenburch, Megan Kershner

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Agricultural Extension Practitioners After Undergoing Andragogical Training In Malawi, Lisa Kaslon, Nathan W. Conner, Catherine Mthinda, Limson Kaluzi, Austen Moore

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The effectiveness of Extension work is highly dependent on the preparedness and professional competencies of Extension practitioners. One area of training that is of importance to Extension practitioners is adult learning. According to Malcolm Knowles, andragogy is the art and science of adult learning. This study looked at the principles of adult learning necessary for effective Extension programming. Twenty Extension practitioners were trained in andragogical principles, and their perceptions of using andragogy to redesign Extension programming were examined. The researchers found that, upon training, Extension practitioners felt that andragogical principles would help Extension work to be viewed more positively …

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #67 April 2025

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

President's message, Deb VanOverbeke

Student awards: Outstanding Junior Lara Arnold, Outstanding Senior Emily Eilers, Graduate Award Caitlin Ross

Dues and membership information

Faculty awards: Research Award Samodha Fernando, Teaching Award Gary Sullivan, Extension Awards Jenny Nixon and Bijesh Maharjan, Award of Merit Mike Boehm

Gamma Sigma Delta committees 2025

Foundation fund information

New members inducted

In memoriam: Dorothy "Dotti" Mott Callahan (May 4, 1942-August 12, 2023); Frank Michael Zoz (November 5, 1936-December 9, 2023); Duane Calvin Acker (March 13, 1931-December 13, 2024); John C. Owens (1944-2024); Duane A. Olson (July 17, 1935-January 5, 2025); Roger W. Mandingo (April 21, 1939-January …

Characteristics Of A Marianist Education, Alyssa Homsy

Presentations - 2025

This presentation was given by a first-year student on an essay she wrote for her first-year seminar class on the characteristics of a Marianist Education.

The Society of Mary, which founded our university, is a Catholic religious sect of brothers and priest founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade in 1817. It is an organization dedicated to education, social justice and forming communities of faith.

Locking-It-In And Doubling: Mediating Second-Grade Students' Activity With Multiplicative Thinking, Jessica F. Shumway, Camille Lund, Joseph Kozlowski, Deborah Silvis, Jody Clarke-Midura, Ana Ashineh

Spatial Activities and Robot Coding (SPARC)

Using activity theory as a lens, we aimed to understand what second-grade students' interactions revealed about their thinking and what mediated students' engagement with important multiplicative ideas. In this setting, students interacted with multiplicative thinking using a coding robot and other artifacts as mediating tools. Through qualitative analysis, we found that students interacted with three concepts related to multiplicative thinking (i.e., composite units, doubling, iterating), and the lead mediators in their interactions included the robot's remote, dry erase marker and table, and peers/teacher. Students gravitated to artifacts that made sense to them, and the implication is that students need agency …

Opening Up Access: Using Transformative Agreements To Diversify Health Sciences Publishing, Irma Qavolli, Mslis, Gary Kaplan, Mlis, Ahip, Beth Ten Have, Mlis

Academic Commons and Scott Memorial Library Staff Papers and Presentations

Background

Students and early-career researchers face systemic obstacles to becoming authors in health sciences journals, such as mentorship, time, and funding.^1,2 As librarians, we believe that open access publishing provides these new voices with greater visibility and accessibility to their research. However, “[early-career researchers] cited high article processing charges (APCs) and perceived lack of journal quality or prestige as barriers to OA publishing.”³ Since 2023, Thomas Jefferson University has offered multiple Transformative Agreements (TAs) to waive article processing charges (APCs) for open access publishing in high quality journals for our patrons. We wondered, can TAs bolster publishing in …

2025 Commencement Program - Spring, Morehead State University. Registrar's Office.

Morehead State Commencement Programs

2025 Spring Commencement program for Morehead State University.

The Level Of Reading Pedagogical Knowledge Among First Three Grades Female Teachers In Jordan, Mohammed Ali Alkhawaldeh, Ahed Ahmad Al-Abood

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of reading pedagogical knowledge among first three grades female teachers in Jordan, and determine whether there are statistically significant differences in their knowledge level attributed to variables of qualification, years of experience, and enrollment in the RAMP course. To achieve the objectives of the study, the descriptive method was followed. The study sample consisted of (295) first three grades female teachers from schools affiliated to the Directorate of Education in Jerash Governorate. To achieve the study's objectives, the researcher prepared an objective situational test consisting of (32) multiple-choice questions, equally …

A Family Counseling Program To Enhance Cyber Psychological Security Among Couples Using Social Media Networks In Gaza Governorates, Abdullah Abdulhadi Alkhatib

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a family counseling program in improving cyber psychological security among spouses who use social media networks in the Gaza Strip. A quasi-experimental approach was adopted, involving a sample of 40 spouses divided into two groups: an experimental group of 20 spouses and a control group of 20 spouses, ensuring homogeneity between them in terms of cyber psychological security levels. The study utilized the Cyber Psychological Security Scale, developed by the researcher, which included dimensions such as cyber psychological awareness, self-protection and privacy empowerment, cyber challenge management, cyber psychological safety, cyber psychological and …

Exploring The Use Of Artificial Intelligence As An Instructional Learning Tool In Middle School Mathematics Classrooms, Maurice Guest Jr

Student Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative causal-comparative study explored the effectiveness of AI instructional/learning tools, specifically the IXL platform, in middle school mathematics classrooms. In this study, AI tools, such as IXL, were investigated to determine if there was a significant influence on students’ academic growth and achievement in light of the continuing teacher shortage in Arkansas. The lack of highly qualified teachers has led to Arkansas high school students’ underperformance in mathematics. Framed by a Constructivist approach, the study viewed learning as an active, engaged experience in which students shaped their own learning, rather than passively receiving information in the classroom. Data from …

Tutoring And Its Impact On Mitigating Covid-19 Reading Learning Loss In A Rural Title I School District For 3rd Grade Students, Julie Nicole Goodin

Student Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study evaluated the impact of a tutoring program on third-grade students' reading achievement, focusing on rural Title I schools. The research used the Kellogg Logic Model to assess the program's short-term outcomes. It analyzed universal reading data for one hundred and three third-grade students and gathered the perspectives from nineteen stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and administrators. The researcher assessed the long-term outcomes by analyzing data on third-grade students' overall academic reading growth and by examining the stakeholders' perceptions of the program's effectiveness. The themes for the study from the participants included the benefits of tutoring, bus transportation, use …

The Three Ps: Political Polarization, Perception, And Pedagogy, Tianka Renee Sheard Mitchell

Student Theses and Dissertations

Political polarization significantly impacts modern education, especially within social studies, where teachers confront sensitive issues in their curricula. This study addressed two research questions: RQ1 examined teachers’ perceptions of the influence of political polarization, and RQ2 explored how these perceptions affect their pedagogy. Through the lens of Reconstructionist Educational Theory, this research highlights the necessity for social studies education to cultivate critical thinking and civic engagement among students. The study aimed to determine whether social studies teachers modify their instructional approaches in response to political polarization, as avoiding "hard history" could jeopardize students’ critical thinking and cultural literacy. Participants shared …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Co-Teaching—A Phenomenological Inquiry, Courtney Spann

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand the phenomenon that is the congruence between secondary special and general education co-teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and actions that characterize how they experience co-teaching. A qualitative, phenomenological research design was used to explore co-teachers’ lived experiences through one-on-one interviews and classroom observations. Purposeful and convenient sampling yielded secondary general and special education teacher participants from one large, urban school district in the United States. The findings extend Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory, suggesting the presence of observational learning between educators in the co-taught classroom. Results also indicate an alignment between what co-teachers say, …

What Happens When Teachers Explore Choice In Low-Choice Educational Environments? A Holistic Case Study On Classroom Autonomy., Jamie Renee Millican Johnson

Student Theses and Dissertations

Scripted curricula are standard in most classroom environments to provide classroom equity and standard alignment for student success. While scripted curricula are used in classrooms, student achievement is stagnant. The purpose of this holistic case study is to examine how teachers who work within the constraints of a mandated curriculum plan find and enact ways to offer students choices. It will assess whether teachers observe a shift in students’ attitudes, engagement, and motivation as their teachers participate in such work. This study will explore the significance of choice through nine teachers' experiences in book study sessions on classroom choice and …

A Case Study Of Special Education Students' Transition Into Postsecondary Opportunities, Lacy Stanford

Student Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore educators’ perceptions of how special education teachers (SETs) influence special education students' (SESs) transition from secondary to postsecondary opportunities in a small, rural high school in Tennessee. The researcher focused on special education educators and how they support students with disabilities in transitioning from secondary to postsecondary opportunities, including education, employment, apprenticeships, and military. These factors were explored through data review and interviews from educators’ perspectives of SETs. This study involved examining how SESs traditionally fail to experience postsecondary success at the same degree as their peers without disabilities, including …

Are The Kids Alright? An Analysis Of Sex Education, The Sexual Behaviors Of Minors And Age Of Consent Laws In The United States, Monica L. Johnston

Senior Theses

This paper explores the sexual development of children, the sexual education they receive, as well as the history of sex laws in the United States, to determine whether the laws regarding education and age of consent adequately protect children. A qualitative survey is also conducted with undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina to determine what topics were discussed in their sexual education curriculum, as well as their sexual behaviors as a minor. While the push for comprehensive sexual education models has been growing, millions of dollars are still being allocated to promote Abstinence Only Until Marriage programs, which …

How Do Children Learn How To Learn? Promoting Early Development At Home Through Play: A Scoping Review, Annika J. Larson

Senior Theses

Early childhood is a critical time in human development, during which children are discovering and practicing countless skills, from basic motor and language skills to problem-solving, self-regulation, memory, and other foundational abilities like literacy and math skills. From infancy through childhood, play is thought to be the primary condition under which most early skills are developed and perfected. During this time, young children are especially vulnerable to adversity and negative environmental influences due to their brains’ high plasticity; adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact an individual well beyond early childhood, specifically in early skills deficits. Play is known to be a …