Education Commons^™

The Impact Of Gender On Learning Styles Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Caleb Quernemoen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how gender influences the learning styles of students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs). While students inherently learn in different ways, factors such as gender and the presence of a learning disability add complexity to the classroom experience. Research supports the idea that boys and girls are not identical in how they learn, and that one-size-fits-all instruction may not serve diverse learners effectively. This study explores how these gender-based differences manifest among students with SLD. These findings underscore the importance of individualized teaching strategies and invite educators to critically assess how best to support all students with learning …

The Impact Of Hearing Loss On D/Deaf And Hard Of Hearing People: Strategies For Academic, Social, And Emotional Support For Students, Mikayla Magnuson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deafness is described as the complete loss of hearing, and the different degrees of hearing loss include mild, moderate, or severe or profound. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in eight people ages 12 or older have hearing loss in both ears. More than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents. Hearing loss can affect numerous areas of development that impact different areas of life such as academic, social, and emotional skills. This paper discusses how hearing loss affects deaf and hard of hearing people and includes strategies that can be implemented to …

Restorative Justice In Secondary Schools: Benefits, Challenges, And Academic Impact, Joseph S. Matia

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This literature review examines restorative justice practices in secondary education, focusing on academic outcomes and comparison with traditional disciplinary methods. Drawing from research published between 2013-2024, this review analyzes how restorative practices impact student achievement while exploring implementation challenges. The review addresses two questions: the impact of restorative practices on academic outcomes in secondary education, and how these practices compare to traditional methods regarding implementation requirements, sustainability, and student outcomes. After establishing theoretical and historical context, the review systematically examines empirical studies, identifying key implementation factors including professional development, stakeholder engagement, and resource allocation. Findings indicate that while restorative practices …

From Adversity To Achievement: The Resilience Of Black Students Raised In Single-Parent Households, Kim Loren Johnson

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

There is limited literature on the resilience strategies of Black students raised in single-parent households and their academic success. Black children are often portrayed as facing negative outcomes educationally. Yet, despite there being challenges they graduate from high school, go to college and are successful. This qualitative phenomenology study explores the lives of 12 Black college students raised in a single-parent household, aged 21-65 years and older, that persevered through adversity and the strategies they utilized to achieve academic success. It examines the internal and external motivational factors that contributed to their achievements as well as the role of support …

Finding My Own Story: A Haitian Americian’S Journey Through Education, Identity, And Black Feminist Relations, Cassandra Victor

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

This dissertation narrates the journey of a first-generation Haitian American unorthodox educator toward earning a doctoral degree. Using an autoethnographic approach, this study illuminates how education systems are constructed to require well-informed navigation and the impacts of those kinds of systems on individuals and families. Through storytelling, metaphors, and Black feminism as valid ways of knowing, this research explores key moments in my educational journey—from elementary and middle school to high school and, ultimately, navigating the doctoral process. This work addresses the following research questions: (a) How can autoethnography be used to navigate the process of completing a doctoral dissertation? …

Striking Similarities: An Exploration Of The Relationship Between Tap Dance And Ballet, Shannon Maloney

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This research explores the relationship between tap dance and ballet, two genres of dance often viewed as polar opposites—if they are considered to have any relationship at all. Qualitative research methods were used throughout this process, including consulting texts and videos, conducting ethnographic research by attending the Woodshed Experience tap dance intensive, and choreographing a dance work featuring both tap and ballet dancers. This project investigates the relationship between the genres in the areas of technique, choreography, and pedagogy. There is significant overlap in the techniques of tap dance and ballet in the areas of musicality, polyrhythmic expression, isolated muscle …

Access For Schools: The Challenge For Success, James H. Hill

Institute for Educational Leadership Monograph Series

In the book Power Shift, Alvin Toffler stated, "Those who can access information and use it to their advantage will succeed in the 21st Century ... those who cannot will be condemned to a permanent underclass" (cited in O'Conner & Kempster, 1993). If Toffler is correct, we need to ensure everyone has full access to the Internet and additional telecommunications of the future. To underscore Toffler's statement, O'Conner and Kempster (1993) suggested:

The challenge of teaching and learning in the next century will be to know how to seek out information, how to ask the relevant questions, how to use …

Stigma And Isolation: The Lived Experiences Of Male Sexual Assault Survivors In College, Vanessa Vela

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Male sexual assault survivors on college campuses face barriers to disclosure, support, and recovery due to stigma, societal expectations of masculinity, and inadequate institutional resources. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of six male survivors of sexual assault enrolled in college, focusing on their perceptions of sexual violence before and after their assault, the psychological burden of disclosure, and their experiences with available support systems. Participants described challenges including rape myths, feelings of isolation, fear of emasculation, and limited access to gender-inclusive resources. While online communities provided some support, institutional services often failed to meet their needs due …

Chalkboards To Chatbots: Helping Faculty Harness Ai For The Future Of Higher Education, Justin C. Grace

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into nursing education presented significant opportunities yet posed challenges due to varied faculty readiness. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) quality improvement (QI) project evaluated an educational intervention aimed at enhancing nursing faculty's AI proficiency and confidence at Regis University’s Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions. Using a mixed-methods, pre- and post-intervention design, validated surveys assessed changes in faculty perceptions, knowledge, and skills related to AI. The intervention included a digital toolkit with nine instructional videos demonstrating practical AI applications using FreedAI’s large language model, ChatGPT, supported by voiceover narration and closed captioning. Data analysis involved descriptive …

Graduation Rates 2024-25, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Graduation Rates

Welcome to the IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) survey component. The GR component collects data on the cohort of full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students and tracks their completion status at 150% of the normal time to complete all requirements of their program of study. This information is collected to assist institutions in complying with the requirements of the Student Right-to-Know Act.

2024-2025 Common Data Set, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Common Data Sets

This document contains data compiled by the SWOSU Office of Institutional Research for the 2024-2025 academic year.

A Case Study Of Italian Teachers’ Culturally Responsive Pedagogy When Teaching U.S. Undergraduate Students Studying Abroad In Rome, Italy, Massimiliano Tomassini

Theses and Dissertations

For over two decades Italy has been the second destination, first non-Anglo-Saxon, for U.S. undergraduate students studying abroad, with 36,945 students in academic year 2017/2018 corresponding to a 10.8% share and a 4.5% increase from 2016/2017 (IIE, 2019). With over 150 North American college and university programs present in the country (AACUPI, 2019), a specifically designed law (Art. 2 of Law N. 4 of 14 January 1999) created to support study abroad in Italy, and a 40-year-old nonprofit association (AACUPI) focused on promoting and supporting American universities and colleges with programs in Italy, Italy is, and will be for some …

Interpreting Technology Proficiency In Stem Education: A Qualitative Study Of Teachers In The New York Region, Zachary Rosch

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the technology integration divide perceived by high school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) teachers within a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting a community of STEM educators across the New York region. The study examined educators' integration of technology in their classrooms, their challenges, professional development needs, and the impact of teaching experience on technology integration. Semi-structured interviews captured teachers' lived experiences regarding subject-specific technology integration, pedagogical strategies, and technological proficiency. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework guided the study, providing a lens to analyze how educators navigated the intersection of content knowledge, pedagogy, …

Mental Health Education Literacy In Schools: An Exploratory Analysis Through A Qualitative Multi Case Study And Phenomenological Approach, Joanne Pisani

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the significant rise in student mental health concerns, schools are now challenged to find better ways to support students’ overall well-being. The critical importance for schools to include mental health education into their curricula is due to the substantial behavioral changes in students. Educational systems are seeing an increase in student school refusal, suspensions, and cyberbullying, as well as mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety which result in elevated crisis response and emergency room visits due to suicide ideation. The purpose of this study was to understand existing mental health education literacy programs in schools and …

Digital Tools: How Specific Digital Tools Support Special Education Teaching Practices, Denise C. Pascullo

Theses and Dissertations

Early childhood education is intrinsically multimodal, involving many different digital tools. With such a big shift towards technology, this study is focusing on teaching strategies with the integration of flexible digital tools. It also presents how specific technologies can support different teaching strategies in elementary special education. The participants in this study are elementary special education teachers, working as special education teachers in an elementary school on Long Island, NY. The essential features of the research methodology are a digital survey for special education teachers to fill out. The researcher also conducted post-survey interviews about the use of flexible digital …

Exploring Students’ Feedback Literacy Through Asynchronous Writing Center Tutoring Sessions: A Mixed-Methods Study, Bobby Pelphrey

Theses and Dissertations

MLLs face linguistic and cultural complexities when engaging with writing feedback; however, writing center practices often follow monolingual models. This study examines how MLLs develop and apply feedback literacy—the ability to seek, interpret, and use feedback—compared to their non-MLL peers in asynchronous writing center consultations. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, the study integrates survey data from the Feedback Literacy Behavior Scale (FLBS) (N = 532; n = 146 MLLs, n = 386 non-MLLs) with qualitative case studies. The survey measured feedback-seeking behaviors, sense-making strategies, emotional regulation, and feedback application, while case studies used think-aloud protocols, semi-structured interviews, and revision analysis. …

Shaping The Future: Exploring Motivations And Challenges In Asian American Teachers’ Career Choices, Jea Lizz Noonan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations and reasons behind why Asian Americans choose to enter the field of education as professionals. Additionally, this research could help identify any obstacles or challenges that Asian Americans face when choosing to enter the teaching profession. To guide the study, three research questions were developed: (1) What are the personal, cultural, and societal factors that influence Asian Americans’ decision to become teachers?, (2) What are the most significant challenges and barriers, in the eyes of Asian educators in the state of New Jersey, to entering the teaching profession and remaining …

Finding Their Way: The Experiences Of Students Enrolled In A Career Pathways Program, Laura March-Retenski

Theses and Dissertations

Due to many sociopolitical factors such as an inequitable public-school education, many students do not graduate from high school in the United States. In 2018 “approximately 2.3 million 16- to 24-year-olds were not enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or alternative credential” (McFarland et al., 2018, p. 12). There is inequity in school funding and resource allocation. Barker and Weber (2016), Cascio and Reber (2013), and Kim and Taylor (2008) have found that the inequitable resource allocation in public schools is a causal factor of dropout. This is problematic because “college graduates find better …

Undergraduate Student Decision-Making: Pursuing Graduate Studies At The Same Institution That Granted The Undergraduate Degree, Anthony C. Marziliano

Theses and Dissertations

Colleges and universities are under pressure to increase enrollment and avoid attrition. It is clear that institutions need to increase efforts to work against decreasing graduate enrollment trends and focusing on students already in-place on campus may be an avenue to do so. Research is lacking concerning factors that may be related to the decision by undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies at the same institution that granted the undergraduate degree. Understanding key characteristics of the group that remains at the institution allows us to identify a student profile to focus on to increase graduate enrollment, especially in light of …

English Language Learners’ Perceptions And Experiences Using Multimodal Tools To Prepare And Deliver Video Presentations Of Digital Portfolios, Mara M. Marino

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in digital literacies in schools and the rise in the number of English language learners (ELLs) in US colleges, it is important to examine the affordances of multimodality as it relates to students’ digital literacy practices while advocating for this diverse population. Using a multiliteracies framework, this qualitative action research study made multimodal tools available to ELLs for the preparation and delivery of video presentations of digital portfolios in a higher education English course. The participants in this study were six ELLs from a small private college. The primary research question and two sub-questions were answered using …

Examining Adhd Diagnosed Young Adults’ Self-Perceptions Of Personal Reading Behaviors During Pleasure Reading Experiences, Nicole Cheramie Lobello

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) impacts the lives of individuals with neurodivergent brains in varied and personal ways. This phenomenon mirrors the diversification of the minds I have been intrigued by for decades. In an effort to better understand the relationships between ADHD and pleasure reading, the lived experiences with pleasure reading of six young college students were examined. Participants were formally diagnosed with some form of ADHD before the study, yet did not have a reading disability diagnosis. One-on-one interviews were conducted to explore in-depth each participant’s experiences with pleasure reading. Through interpretative phenomenological study (IPA), four themes emerged: (a) perceptions …

Promoting Student Racial/Ethnic Diversity: An Explanatory Sequential Study Among Higher Education Administrators, Seabelo Chabo John

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods explanatory sequential study explored how administrators can promote student racial/ethnic diversity in higher education. Phase 1 determined quantitatively if schools with diverse full-time faculty have diverse students. Participants were 1,464 four-year degree-granting Carnegie-classified undergraduate institutions from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). These schools employed 557,858 full-time faculty and admitted 12,007,388 students. Phase 2 explored administrators’ perspectives on racial/ethnic diversity in higher education through narrative interviews. Participants were 10 full-time administrators responsible for hiring faculty, recruiting students, and managing campus climate. Quantitative results revealed that schools with diverse faculty have diverse students. Qualitative results indicated that ongoing, …

Reinstated But Not Forgotten: Examining The Academic Recovery Of Community College Students After Dismissal, Nelson Izquierdo

Theses and Dissertations

Student retention and success are critical challenges in higher education, particularly for community colleges that serve diverse and at-risk student populations. While research has explored student persistence and academic probation, little is known about the factors influencing the academic recovery of reinstated students after academic dismissal. This study examines how demographic characteristics (age, gender, and ethnicity) and major program choice (STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities, Health Sciences, Education, and Business) impact GPA improvement and credit completion post-reinstatement. Guided by Schlossberg’s Transition Theory (1995), this quantitative, ex post facto study analyzed archival data from 2,112 reinstated students at a large, urban community …

African American Executive Leaders And Positive Psychology: Exploring The Nexus Of Executive Leadership And African American Literature, Van Havercome

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this narrative study was to explore the experiences that African Americans have in executive leadership positions within higher education. The participants in this study identified as African Americans, with a doctorate, who held an executive leadership position in higher education. The colleges and universities where the participants were employed were predominantly White institutions on the East and West Coast regions of the United States. A narrative research model was utilized to collect stories of the participants’ lived experiences as executive leaders who used positive psychology to overcome barriers within their positions. In addition, the executive leaders made …

The Role Of Auditory And Visual Processing In Developmental Dyslexia: A Quantitative Study Based On Archival Data, Doris Kanoun

Theses and Dissertations

Dyslexia is a popular condition that is associated with impaired reading abilities. Different sources state that it can be observed in around 3-10% of the population. Low reading fluency and reading comprehension, which are often exhibited by dyslexics, can dramatically influence the learning process and reduce academic achievement. In spite of the growing number of studies on dyslexia, the nature and causes of this condition remain poorly understood. In particular, studies offer contradictory findings on the link between dyslexia and auditory and visual processing disorders. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the role of auditory and visual …

Classroom Dialogue About Race And Racism: Teachers’ Experiences As They Navigate Divisive Waters, Claire Hollocou

Theses and Dissertations

In the past few years, the way teachers handle race and racism in the classroom has come under scrutiny (First Book, 2023; Schwartz, 2024). Even though there is scholarly evidence to suggest that learning about and discussing race and racism is beneficial to students and student learning outcomes (Gay, 2018; González et al., 2006; Hammond, 2014; Paris & Alim, 2014), teachers are confronted with restrictions referencing how they can and should engage in lessons and conversations about race and racism. Many perspectives have been expressed on this topic, but placing the voices of teachers at the center of the discussion …

Historical Literacy For Preservice Secondary Social Studies Teachers In The State Of Connecticut: A Phenomenological Study, Vincent J. Gaccione Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Despite a recent shift in focus from content area literacy to disciplinary literacy in preservice teacher (PST) preparation programs, historical literacies training for prospective secondary social studies teachers has remained limited in the State of Connecticut. Historical literacies are defined as the discipline-specific reading and writing skills of historians and other social scientists. In this phenomenological study, I describe the lived experiences of several recent PST program graduates who are currently teaching secondary social studies in the State of Connecticut and report on the essence of this phenomenon. Grounded in communities of practice (CoP) theory, I administered open-ended qualitative surveys …

Co-Teaching In A Secondary Enl Setting, Helen Efkarpides

Theses and Dissertations

As the schools in New York State increase in terms of the number of English as a New Language (ENL) co-taught classes in proportion to the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) enrolled, there is a greater need to understand the dynamics between co-teachers to identify best strategies to support this growing population of sensitive learners. In most schools, English language learners (ELLs), a subgroup of Multilingual Learners, are placed in an English language arts (ELA) class that is taught by a content area teacher along with an ENL teacher. The expectation is that the two teachers will work together …

The Impact Of An Experiential Financial Literacy Workshop On First-Grade Students’ Comprehension Of Financial Concepts, Deirdre Donnelly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact that an experiential financial literacy workshop has on first-grade students’ comprehension of financial concepts. Financial literacy is a lifelong skill. It is essential for children to establish and maintain the financial literacy skills necessary to be successful in money matters throughout their lives; yet many young children are not being taught financial concepts (Center for Financial Security, 2016). In addition, a person’s financial attitudes are shaped in childhood (Drever et al., 2015). Currently, elementary schools throughout the United States are not consistently creating age-appropriate financial literacy curricula for children (Collins …

Barriers To Success In Higher Education For Second-Generation Caribbean American Men, Leonard S. Breton

Theses and Dissertations

While the United States may be progressing, second-generation Caribbean American men, those with at least one foreign-born parent (US Census Bureau, 2016), are a population that, despite literature addressing benefits and detriments of their cultural experiences, still warrants continued examination through empirical testing (Lyttle et al., 2011). These students have a range of factors that make them nontraditional students. Challenges such as racism, sexual and ethnic identity, and generational status in this country can be compounded when cultural perspectives of immigrant families are factored in. Caribbean American men are guided by learned behaviors and cultural traditions that influence training and …