Education Commons^™

Together We Can! High School Algebra Plc Members’ Experiences On Implementing New Curriculum And Its Impact On Their Self-Efficacy, Chasity L. Hughes

Dissertations

When state or federal legislation adopts new standards, the workload falls on the teachers. Unfortunately, research has shown a decline in teachers’ preparedness due to the many changes in the standards for mathematics in Georgia in the last twenty years. Studies show that teachers have felt overwhelmed and stressed when implementing previous curriculum changes which have decreased the teachers’ self-efficacy levels. This calls for professional learning communities (PLCs) to provide improvement and sustainment in teachers’ self-efficacy in implementing the new curriculum. Little research has been done to describe the teachers’ experience with the recent change in Georgia's mathematics curriculum. There …

Pedagogical Virtues From The Situationist Insight: Virtuous Scaffolding And Sensitivity To Non-Epistemic Situational Factors To Learning, Noel L. Clemente

Philosophy Department Faculty Publications

This article explores two pedagogical virtues (intellectual virtues of a teacher) that arise from the insight that non-epistemic situational factors can affect students' epistemic judgements and behaviour. First, a virtuous teacher must be sensitive enough to these factors in order to take advantage of how they boost student learning. However, while cultivating a situationally and epistemically favourable environment for learning sounds sensible, teachers should not spoil their students by making them too dependent on these beneficial external factors. The virtuous teacher must also realize that these are only scaffolds; they do help students initially, but must eventually be removed to …

Teaching As Advocacy: Bridging The Gap Between World Language Classrooms And Community, Xinquan Liu, Guy Trainin, Chunmei Guan, Hangxin Yu

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

World Language education in the United States faces significant challenges, including declining enrollments and diminished community support. This paper introduces Teaching as Advocacy as a proactive framework to address these issues, proposing a mindset that integrates advocacy seamlessly into teaching practices. By leveraging community engagement and emphasizing "Connection" and "Community," the framework extends classroom learning into real-world contexts. Strategies such as cross-disciplinary collaborations, service-learning projects, partnerships with ethnic communities, and strategic use of social media amplify the impact of language education, demonstrating its value through tangible outcomes. This paper offers practical examples to showcase how Teaching as Advocacy revitalizes World …

Policy Analysis Of Hb0030: Empowering English Language Learners, Maria K. De La Cruz Salinas, Ann Katherine Welling

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The 1974 Supreme Court case Lau v. Nichols ruled that schools are required to provide English Language Learning services, as failing to do so deprives English-learning students of a meaningful opportunity to participate in education and denies them access to an equitable education (Lau v. Nichols). Not providing English Language Learning support is in opposition to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Education Opportunities Act of 1974. In addition, the Every Student Succeeds Act requires all students with no exceptions to participate in school accountability assessments, which in Tennessee is the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Mitigation Through Education: A Brain-Based Learning Approach, Marisa S. Paglino

PhD in Education

Prior research has indicated a noteworthy relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), working memory (WM) function, and quality of life (QOL) among individuals who have experienced traumatic events within their lifetime. Despite much prior research focusing primarily on adult combat veterans of war, minimal data exists evaluating the effects of traumatic events in civilians who have yet to pass the age of complete neurological development (25 years or age). The present study aimed to evaluate the differences in trauma perception, perception of WM function, and perception of QOL among college students in Florida. Using descriptive statistics, based on the type …

Linking Cerebral Small Vessel Disease To Impaired Ltp In The Hippocampus, Sofia Touil

Expo Student Presentations

2025 Spring Expo Oral Presentation

• Works in Progress

Impact Of Mindfulness On Teaching And Learning, Angie Buttjer

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Research has shown that mindfulness practices that enhance awareness and focus while regulating emotions benefit students' well-being and academic achievements. The research studies mindfulness practices' effects on third-grade classroom teaching and learning processes. The research study explores how the daily incorporation of mindfulness practices impacts student attention and self-management skills together with their academic outcomes while assessing the impact on teacher effectiveness and classroom environments. A mixed-methods approach combines quantitative data from academic assessments, behavioral observations, and qualitative insights from teacher journaling. The initial findings indicate that students who practice mindfulness show better focus and involvement in learning while displaying …

Math Interventions To Improve Classroom Grades In A Secondary Math Classroom, Morgan Boger

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

Algebra is essential for students to take more advanced mathematics courses as mathematics content becomes increasingly more difficult when students enter high school. There are too many students needing to repeat Algebra 1 in order to gain the foundational learning they need to move on and be successful in their subsequent math courses. Research has shown that Tier 2 mathematics interventions can provide promising outcomes for struggling math learners. This inquiry-based research study aims to determine if a mathematic intervention course can help struggling learners improve math grades to advance to their next course. The study utilized a quantitative approach, …

Casey Anthony Case, Shelby L. Woodyard

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Casey Anthony is the mother of Caylee Anthony who went missing in 2008. Her mother called the police to report her missing 31 days after her last sighting. During the investigation, Anthony lied to police on multiple occasions which lead them to arrest her for the murder of her daughter. Anthony was then charged with first degree murder along with aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child. Caylee’s body was found shortly after the missing person's report, wrapped in a blanket near the Anthony’s home. Florida wanted the death penalty in the case against Casey Anthony with mostly …

The Impact Of Free Course Materials On Study And Financial Habits: A Survey Of Students Taking Z-Courses At Fhsu, Claire Nickerson

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A z-course is a course that uses zero-cost course materials. In Fall of 2025, a study of students taking z-courses at FHSU was conducted. The goal was to determine how using free course materials affected students’ budgetary and study habits.

Exploring Sound Intensity Levels In Dance Studios: A Study On Acoustic Environments And Their Impact, Nicole M. Ruda, Ella M. Stoppel, Blake Roth

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study investigated the intensity levels of music in dance studios and evaluated listener habits and awareness of the negative impact loud noises can have on hearing. Sound intensity measurements were first collected followed by a survey and basic auditory screening. Results indicated dance instructors are exposed to music intensities that exceed safe listening levels. Most participants were unaware of their listening level.

Examining Mental Health In Mass Shooters, Christina K. Robison, Brooke Mann

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Mass shootings are defined as shootings that cause 4 or more deaths not including the shooter (excluding those committed in connection to underlying criminal activity, such as gangs or drugs); examples include workplace shootings, school shootings, public shootings, shootings at places of worship, etc. There have been 195 mass shootings since 1966, with 1,398 reported deaths. While several factors influence mass shootings, research points to psychological, sociological, and economic influences. This analysis is over 3 separate studies, having between 172-177 shooters each with the same basic demographics, but separate focuses. Overall, the main focus is looking for patterns that could …

Identifying The Strongest Links: Factors That Drive Graduate Students’ Progress From Interest To Enrollment, Lauren Stallbaumer, Grace Cook, Pearl Brown

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study examined factors which influence graduate students' decisions to pursue speech- language pathology from initial exposure to final program selection. Through a survey, key links were identified at all stages. Findings suggest recruitment should begin with high school students who exhibit healthcare interests and value mentorship at the graduate level.

Murder On The Plains: The Murdock Farmhouse Slayings, Tatum L. Sander

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

On April 17, 2006, Wayne and Sharmon Stock were murdered in Murdock, Nebraska, shocking the community. The investigation was complicated by wrongful arrests and mishandled evidence. Initially, Matthew Livers, the victims’ nephew, and his cousin Nicholas Sampson were wrongfully accused after Livers gave a false confession during an 11-hour interrogation. There was no physical evidence linking them to the crime, and the case relied on a fabricated blood sample. However, forensic evidence later revealed that the real killers were Jessica Reid and Gregory Fester, two teenagers from Wisconsin. Livers' confession was deemed unreliable due to his low IQ and the …

Resurrecting The Past: Engineering Ancestral Enzymes For Modern Bacterial Applications, Gregory M. Gladkowski Iii, Masa Watanabe

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction (ASR) is a computational technique that infers and resurrects ancient protein sequences to explore molecular evolution and enable protein engineering. By integrating phylogenetics and statistical modeling, ASR produces stable, mutation-tolerant enzymes ideal for directed evolution. This poster presents a workflow for reconstructing enzymes from pathogenic bacteria and highlights ASR’s value in uncovering novel functions and advancing applications in drug discovery and synthetic biology.

Smu Wins Prestigious The Awards Asia 2025: Teaching & Learning Strategy Of The Year, Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

Singapore Management University (SMU) is proud to announce that it has been named Winner in the ‘Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year’ category at the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2025. The accolade was awarded in recognition of SMU-X, the University’s flagship industry project-based experiential learning.

How New Mathematics Teachers Develop Teacher-Student Relational Pedagogy, Dustin Kinser

Dissertations

This study investigated the support structures implemented with new mathematics teachers to help them build relational pedagogy with their students to determine their effectiveness. The literature review examines topical research, gaps in literature and theoretical frameworks to justify the study. The case study investigated new math teachers and their processes of building positive teacher-student relationships using the support structures that they were taught on their way to becoming a teacher. Math teachers were interviewed to find any common themes across the study and find out what is truly working or not working so that the process can be improved. Another …

2025 Awardees, Office Of Sponsored Projects, Academic Research And Compliance (Sparc)

Showcase Awards

Every year, St. Mary's honors their students and faculty at the showcase with awards to recognize their hard work and leadership in research on campus. These are the award winners for 2025.

Navigating Outsourced Manufacturing: General Motors' Strategic Challenges In Mexico, Alvaro Soler, Jose Maria Gallegos

Posters - 2025

Outsourcing manufacturing has become a strategic necessity for many global corporations in today’s fast-changing global economy. Over the past decades, many U.S. companies have outsourced production to regions like Latin America and China, seeking geographical advantages, lower labor costs, and access to skilled workforces to remain competitive. General Motors, one of the largest automobile manufacturers globally, exemplifies this trend. By outsourcing production to Mexico since 1935, GM highlights how multinational companies strategically use outsourcing to optimize costs and improve efficiency. Employing over 25,000 workers and contributing over 12% of its annual production in 2023, GM demonstrates the broader significance of …

El Campanario (Volume 1, Issue 2), St. Mary's University

Honors Program Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Rattler Notehub, Emily Medlin

Posters - 2025

Students lack diverse and comprehensive study materials that help develop effective learning. More specifically, students at St. Mary’s may find that study material outside of class are not as effective or not relevant to what was taught in class. This leads to prolonged study sessions or completely missing information that was taught when the student was absent. Rattler NoteHub tries to accomplish giving access to students to collaborate, find supplement resources and promote efficient studying.

Rattler NoteHub is a full-stack website that was initially developed as a Software Engineering project. Since then, the website has expanded its functionality to better …

Fostering Autonomy And Self Efficacy: An Informal Caregiver's Guide To Encouraging Participation In Self-Care, Jade A. Evans, Steven M. Gerardi, Precious Osuoha

Spring 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Helping Hands and Active Lives is a practical guidebook designed to empower informal caregivers to support senior independence and well-being. It offers evidence-based strategies to enhance communication, mobility, and daily function while emphasizing the impact of caregiving approaches on occupational success.

A School-University Research Practice Partnership: Why, How And What's Next, Stephanie Knight, Larry Featherstone

Presentations

This symposium will utilize three unique examples of collaborative research projects taking place under CERI to richly describe features of the partnership. Through the three papers, a summary presentation of features of the overall consortium, discussant comments, and brief Q&A with the presenters, we aim to highlight how CERI is encountering and addressing challenges common to RPPs as well as addressing some emergent and regional issues in innovative ways.

As an RPP, CERI is guided by three broad principles. (1) Mutuality - CERI was developed to benefit both the university and the large local urban school district. Problems of practice …

Edc 4200 Children’S Literature And Language Arts In Childhood Education Syllabus, Ivana Espinet

Open Educational Resources

This document is a syllabus for EDC 4200 Children’s Literature and Language Arts in Childhood Education.

An Evaluation Of The Horse Powered Reading® Retreat Program, Troy Allan, Allison Garlick, Makenna Pahlke

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Horse Powered Reading® (HPR) is an equine-assisted learning program that integrates social-emotional learning with literacy skills for K -12 students. Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty held a one-day retreat to pilot the HPR program with children aged 5–17. Evaluation results showed improvements in youth’s reading skills, self-efficacy, and emotional well-being.

Preparing Youth For Careers In Drone Aviation: Evaluating Washington County 4-H Drone Camps, Paul A. Hill, Aubree L. Miller, Katarina J. Aikens

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Drone technology presents growing career opportunities, yet youth access to education in this field remains limited. This study evaluates the Washington County 4-H Drone Camps, which aimed to equip youth in 4^th – 8^th graders with essential knowledge and skills in drone aviation. The Drone Camps focused on competencies such as drone anatomy, FAA regulations, and piloting skills. Evaluation results indicated youth improved in all competency areas after completing the camp. The Washington County 4-H Drone Camps effectively allowed youth to explore drone technologies and prepare them for a possible career pathway.

Building Bridges Of Knowledge, Cuny Innovative Teaching Academy (Cita)

Open Educational Resources

Building Bridge of Knowledge (BBK) is a CUNY-wide faculty fellowship project, aiming to help students use generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools ethically, responsibly, and effectively. Funded by Lumina Foundation in 2024-25, the project was executed by the CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy (CITA) of the Office of Faculty Affairs at CUNY Central Office, with 25 Faculty Fellows in five disciplinary areas (Education, Health, Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM) chosen from across CUNY’s senior and community colleges. Each disciplinary cohort was led by a CUNY faculty member with expertise in the use of AI. The final materials, described and linked in this …

Virtual Victor: Bringing Our Mascot To Life, Juan D. Guzman-Duran, Jonathan T. Hunnacutt, Honesty Beaton

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In this project, we transformed the Fort Hays State University tiger mascot into a fully rigged, animated virtual character. Using Adobe’s character animation tools, we created a model that can mirror and perform human movements in real time. The system uses a camera to track facial expressions and body motion, which are then mapped onto the tiger character. This poster includes the following: "Why We Made Virtual Victor," "Procedure," "Why is Victor Useful," and "What We Learned."

Deception And Domination: A Comparative Analysis Of Toxic Leadership In Scar: The Lion King And Mother Gothel: Tangled, Anneliese Elder, Cale T. Cormaney

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Abstract: This project revolves around toxic leadership through a comparative analysis of two infamous Disney villains: Scar from The Lion King and Mother Gothel from Tangled. Through the use of qualitative media analysis, this study examines how both characters manipulate power, as well as exploit followers, and exhibit various destructive leadership traits. Referencing Haslam et al.’s (2020) The New Psychology of Leadership, the analysis focuses on their particular leadership contexts, and their use of deception and control to create a sense of fear within those they lead. Scar’s leadership is characterized by manipulation, betrayal, and an obsession with power. In …

Virtual Reality & Cybersecurity, Jonathan T. Hunnacutt, Honesty Beaton, Juan D. Guzman-Duran

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This poster includes how it was created, what we learned, and why it is useful. This project is a collaboration with the Cybersecurity Institute and Technology Incubator (CITI). Our team is developing a virtual reality version of CITI to support a hands-on learning space for information technology and cybersecurity education both in person and online.