Education Commons^™

Establishing A Boundaryless Institute Of Higher Education Through Transcendence, Sanci Teague, Melissa S. Vermillion

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

In a modern era defined by technological advancements and rapidly changing markets, reforming traditional organizational structures is necessary to meet changing business and educational demands. One novel approach is to create a Boundaryless Institution of Higher Education. Jack Welch, CEO/Chairperson of General Electric and “management thinker,” pioneered the boundaryless organization in the 1990s. Being boundaryless means being flexible and dynamic with an emphasis on removing boundaries, both physical and conceptual. Educational leaders pursue boundaryless organizations in search of more inclusive, adaptable, and interconnected educational experiences for students. Successful boundaryless institutions of higher education shift from traditionally rigid educational structures to …

Winter Break Is Here! Are You Taking Classes? How On-Campus Tabling Sessions Improve Student Perceptions Of Winter Term Courses, James Blair, Russell Carpenter, Cassie Bradley

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

There has been significant disruption and competition in higher education in recent years and this is anticipated to continue moving forward. Universities have expanded product offerings, including courses during their winter break to allow students to catch up, get ahead, or earn additional credentials. We examine the effectiveness of on-campus tabling sessions to see how this marketing strategy impacts student perceptions of courses offered during Winter Term. We find this to be an effective strategy in attracting students with high levels of goal attainment and those with high perceived satisfaction levels of Winter Term courses. This marketing strategy can help …

Advising Postsecondary Students To Success And Retention: The P.A.S.E. Model, Stephanie Ford

Journal of Excellence in College Teaching and Learning

Advising students toward success at the university and college levels often solely focuses on academic advising alone, leaving them struggling in other areas of their postsecondary educational experiences, which can greatly hinder student retention rates (Karp et al., 2021). However, when postsecondary students have access to highly effective advisors who invest more deeply into the advising process, the students become confident, empowered, and invested in their college experiences; as a result, they continue to re-enroll each semester. Recently, there has been increased insight into the importance of non-academic support provided by academic advisors to students, such as helping gain employment …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Master Bibliography, Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Master bibliography for the open educational resource/open access textbook Concepts in Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner and Sue Ann Gardner, editors, published by Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 2024. This includes the references from literature cited and suggested supplemental reading.

The Deaf Experience In National Parks With An Emphasis On Rocky Mountain National Park, Madeline Dannewitz

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research investigated the experiences of Deaf visitors to the Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP). The little research available focuses on how the National Park Service and its workers interact with Deaf people. Conversely, this study investigated the experiences of Deaf people and their perspective regarding interacting with the park and its members. A study regarding Deaf visitors in Yosemite National Park found that many were invisible to its employees. The desire from the Deaf community and lack of research shows the significance of this study. This analysis is crucial to the human experience as quality of life is improved …

Cultivating Honor: How Indigenous Students Harness Resilience And Cultural Wealth To Thrive At A Borderlands University, Lourdes Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative study sheds light on students' lived experiences regarding Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) at Borderlands University (BU), a Hispanic-serving institution on the U.S.-Mexico border where First Peoples lived for thousands of years. This study supports Indigenous students whose dismal national college graduation rates must be addressed. It recognizes studentsâ?? cultural wealth and richness (Yosso, 2005) and is grounded by the Peoplehood Matrix (Holm, 2003; Tachine, Cabrera, and Yellow Bird, 2017). This study was consistent with previous studies revealing that prioritizing student support raises equity and improves the overall academic experiences for all students in higher education (Tachine …

Workplace Bullying In K-12 Education, Lorena Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Workplace bullying within K-12 education settings has become an increasingly recognized concern, with potentially profound implications for educators' well-being. This quantitative research study aims to explore the phenomenon of workplace bullying among teachers and administrators in K-12 educational institutions. Findings from this study will contribute to the existing literature by shedding light on the prevalence and manifestations of workplace bullying in K-12 education, as well as its implications for individual well-being, organizational culture, and educational outcomes. The study aims to inform the development of targeted interventions and policies to prevent and address workplace bullying, thereby fostering healthier and more supportive …

My Little Poetic/Prose Book Of Words, Sayings, And Stories In Broken Spanish And A Little Bit Of German / Mi Libro Chiquito De Poética / Prosa De Palabras, Dichos, Y Historias Español Fracturado Y Un Poquetito Alemán, Sharon Ann Lucero

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I would like to thank Jonathan Taylor and Sarah Thompson for the wonderful job they did in providing me with feedback. I took into consideration all their comments. Their comments aligned with Dr. Powers, and I really took a deeper look into my Spanish/English translations on whether I should have them or not. I found a happy medium for all of it. I also went back and looked at the rest of the class’s comments and made sure that I did not miss any of the details that were pointed out to me the first time …

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy And Qris: Leveraging Systems To Improve Academic Achievement Of Marginalized Students, Elizabeth Nichols

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Culturally sustaining pedagogy is being utilized to support racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students in some classrooms and schools across the nation. Minoritized students currently have higher disciplinary rates and lower graduation rates. This leads to the question: at what age should educators begin implementing culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP) to support positive academic, social, and emotional outcomes in young children? This thesis explores how preschool programs implement culturally sustaining practices in their classroom environments through interactions with students, family/community engagement, and social justice activities. I also examine how the implementation of CSP improves academic, social, and emotional outcomes among minoritized …

Building Positive Gender Expressions Among Mexican-American College Students, Nezahualcóyotl Paniagua-Jiménez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This thesis explores the need for college programs to nurture and support positive gender expressions among Mexican-American college students. It does so through a historical and cultural analysis of gender identities and expressions within the Mexican community and how they impact the lives of Mexican-American college students. Additionally, it offers an exploration of potential practices and programs that support the development of positive identity and gender expressions, with a lens of intersectionality, to ensure students are allowed to critically explore and develop gender identities that move away from domination/subservience power structures and that are founded on their unique cultural background.

Characterizing The Mentoring Landscape In An Online Biology Cure: An Examination Of Student And Graduate Teaching Assistant Perspectives And Outcomes, Karen Alejandra Santillan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Both undergraduate research experiences (UREs) and course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) provide students with benefits and opportunities such as improving technical skills and making connections that provide resources. Where these two experiences differ is accessibility. Similar to their URE counterpart, CUREs entail mentorship on the part of the faculty/graduate teaching assistant (GTA) instructor (Dolan, 2016). There is general agreement that mentoring has many benefits for undergraduate STEM students, such as an improvement in retention rates, increased confidence and self-efficacy, and a more established sense of belonging and science identity (Dolan, 2016). CURE instructors often adopt the role of “mentor” in …

The Experiences Of Questbridge Scholars At Elite Universities, Karla J. Leybold

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examined the experiences of QuestBridge Scholars attending three different elite universities that enroll more students from the top income quintile than from the lowest three income quintiles combined. The universities attended by participants in this study are among the few that are both need-blind and that fully meet students’ demonstrated financial need through grant and scholarship aid. Additionally, these universities have acceptance rates of no more than 10%. The QuestBridge organization’s mission is to match high-achieving, low-income students with elite institutions.

Data from participants were collected through an audio and video recorded interview using a semi-structured …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Undergraduate Students Who Participated In The Ronald E. Mcnair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, Alexandria C. Craft

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experiences of former McNair Program participants at a regional postsecondary institution in northeast Tennessee. More specifically, the study examined how past participants of a McNair Program perceived their program experiences related to their post-undergraduate educational endeavors and career pursuits. Although research has been conducted on McNair Programs, no research has been conducted on the lived experiences of individuals who participated in a McNair Program in northeast Tennessee within the last two decades, and little to no research has been conducted to identify the program components that former participants believe …

Navigating New Frontiers: A Narrative Of Cte Administrators Leading Rural Innovation, Claire Bass

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Public school districts play a pivotal role in the well-being of rural communities. To help mitigate the impact of labor market trends, societal shifts, and the skilled labor shortage, rural schools are in the initial stages of expanding innovative career pathways. As such, career and technical education (CTE) administrators serve their rural communities by facilitating robust career pathways to support local labor markets. Due to a skilled labor shortage, a declining labor force participation rate, and a rapidly evolving labor market, there is a lack of qualified and certified personnel to fill industry jobs (Davis et al., 2022). School districts …

Covid 19 And Classroom Instruction: A Comparison Of Synchronous In-Person And Virtual Student Learning, Jason Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this ex-post facto quantitative study was to compare English Language Arts (ELA) and math Tennessee Compressive Assessment Program (TCAP) scores of students in grades four through eight who attended school virtually or in-person during the 2020-2021 school year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school district in this study allowed parents to choose to send their children to traditional in-person classes or attend school virtually. In-person and virtual students engaged synchronous classroom instruction through Google Meets. All virtual students were instructed by the teachers they would have had if their parents had chosen to send them for …

A Bright Point In A Dull Day: A Qualitative Exploration Of Middle School Students’ Perceptions Of Music Ensemble Participation, Kailee Amburgey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Music participation, specifically in an ensemble setting, is known to promote learning and social skills and to contribute to a well-rounded overall education. With this in mind, this qualitative, constructivist grounded theory study explored the impacts that participating in chorus, band, or orchestra has on students’ overall experience in middle school, with a focus on joy and identity development. The researcher interviewed fifteen students about their personal experiences and feelings about their lives as middle schoolers and musicians. The findings, shared in six theoretical concepts tied to the research question, reveal important facets of these students’ experiences that shed light …

A Comparison Of Student Academic Variables In Mixed Teaching Methods And Traditionally Taught Biology Courses At Participating Community Colleges In Tennessee, Elesha Goodfriend

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to compare academic variables from students participating in mixed teaching methods/course revitalization biology courses to those in traditional courses at two community colleges in Tennessee. A two-group comparison design using archived data was used, which evaluated differences in final grades, exam scores, and homework completion as indicators of the academic success between an urban institution and a rural college. A power analysis was performed using G*Power software to provide the needed sample size, indicating a size of 176. There were 227 students in the active teaching lecture classrooms, and 198 students in the …

Design And Validation Of A Test For Teachers: Measuring Knowledge Of Trauma, Jennifer B. Bilbrey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research and interest in trauma-informed pedagogy have grown substantially. Trauma-informed pedagogy includes knowledge of trauma symptoms, associated behaviors, and environmental and instructional trauma-informed strategies. Various scales measure attitudes and experiences with trauma-informed practices; however, the literature suggests a lack of validated tests measuring teachers' knowledge of trauma. Reliable and valid tests measuring knowledge are critical when determining the professional development needs of both pre-service and in-service teachers. This multi-phase study aimed to fulfill this need by creating the Teachers’ Knowledge of Trauma (TKOT) test. With the guidance of literature and qualitative data from eight early childhood professional peers, a 50-item …

The Perceptions Of Black Teachers Regarding The Work Environment In Predominately White Schools P-12, Rhonda Lankford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined the experiences of Black teachers in predominately White P-12 schools, and focused on examining the external and internal challenges that Black teachers face who work in predominately White schools. Voices are sometimes ignored or muted in a society dominated by the majority White culture. This study will allow readers to experience the narratives of Black educators who work in these environments. The educators selected for this study were purposefully chosen from predominately White school districts. The researcher interviewed each subject in a semi-structured interview environment to gather data. Results of interviews lead to the emergence of …

No Tolerance For Zero Tolerance: Teacher Perceptions Of Restorative Practices, Meghann Ramsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The original design of zero-tolerance policies was meant to support school safety through an anti-drug and violence campaign but in the years following their implementation, school districts have employed them repeatedly without merit. Exclusionary practices have become controversial, leading to high rates of recidivism, imbalanced implementation toward minority groups, and the loss of learning while suspended or expelled. Just as effective educators respond and intervene to instructional practices that are not proving successful, an overhaul of disciplinary practices was necessary for academic and emotional health. Restorative practices have emerged in recent years as an alternative process to the antiquated system …

The Perspectives And Experiences Of Arabic Mothers About Families’ Home And School Engagement, Fatimah Ahmed Rubayyi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to the rise in the rank of Arabic students in schools in the United States (U.S.), this qualitative study was designed to investigate the perspective of Arabic mothers in the U.S. regarding their experiences of involvement with their children’s schools. The approach includes a convenience sample of eight Arabic mothers. Through virtual focus groups, individual interviews, and concept maps the eight Arabic mothers shared their experiences and perceptions of what their children's primary schools and early childhood education programs are doing to involve them. Additionally, the study explored participants' recommendations for schools regarding family involvement for other Arabic families …

Here To Stay: Why Black Male Teachers Choose To Remain In The Classroom, Christopher J. Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the experiences, perceptions, and motivations of Black male high school teachers who have chosen to remain in the high school classrooms. By focusing on factors that drove their commitment to the teaching profession, this study aimed to identify key elements that influenced their longevity in the classroom. The study employed a purposive sampling method and collected data through semi-structures interviews using Zoom, a focus group, and survey results from participants across the southern region of the United States. Six major themes emerged from the individual interviews: (1) impact, (2) representation, (3) relationship building, (4) recruitment, (5) …

Evaluating The Intersection Of Continuous Growth And Assessment In The Field Of English As A Second Language, Madison Johnson

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This teaching portfolio contains a compilation of the author’s personal teaching experiences and research interests while in the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University (USU). The sections of this portfolio highlight collaboration with current USU professors in the field of teaching English as a second language and the author’s personal experiences working in a second-grade elementary school classroom as well as teaching English in a community education setting. Much of the mentioned research focuses on the subfield of second language assessment. This is an area of interest to the author as an area for personal …

Using The History Of Statistics To Teach Introductory Statistics, Melissa Hansen

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

While often taught in high school and required as part of a college degree, statistics classes are sometimes viewed by students as an obstacle rather than a support for their overall goals. One way to increase student engagement in a statistics course is to use the history of statistics. Within the literature review, the advantages to using the history of statistics are discussed as well as the more extensive research on using the history of mathematics in mathematics courses. Included are instructional strategies for using the context around the development of mathematical ideas in math classrooms which can be extended …

Examining The Effects Of Sketch And Speak Intervention On Expository Discourse Utilizing Salt’S Ess For Adolescents With Language-Related Learning Disabilities, Camryn Lettich

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was twofold: (a) to determine the distal effects of Sketch and Speak intervention on the use of taught note-taking strategies on a distal standardized expository task for adolescents with LLD when compared to pre-treatment; and (b) to determine the effect of Sketch and Speak intervention on the quality of oral performance on that distal expository task for adolescents with LLD when compared to pre-treatment. Oral rehearsal was not a formal research question, but independent use of this taught strategy was also examined. Method: Planning notes and oral explanations were obtained as …

A Word From The Writing Team (May 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat on May 3rd
• Save the Date for the 16th Annual Jefferson Faculty Days: June 5th & 6th
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations Are Done—Come See!
• Thomas Jefferson University Has Updated Its Mission Statement
• Publication Spotlight
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available on the Library Website
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools

Navigating School Restructuring In The Post-Covid Era: A Principal’S Perspective In Sustaining Organizational Health While Bridging The Academic Achievement Gap, Alma Alicia Perez-Campos

Theses and Dissertations

In 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic led to nationwide school closures, followed by a mandate for schools to reopen in 2020, posing challenges for ensuring both educational continuity and student safety. This paper presents findings from a mixed-method study involving ten campus principals in District A, South Texas, post-pandemic. Qualitatively, the study explored the principals' perspectives on restructuring their campuses to address achievement gaps while maintaining organizational health. Quantitatively, it examined the relationship between achievement and organizational health scores and any differences in organizational health pre- and post-COVID-19. The study aimed to offer insights for future …

At Risk, Punished, And Pushed Out Of School: Leadership Practices Utilized By School Administrators For Discipline Consequences In South Texas Schools, Beulah San Juanita Rangel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine leadership practices utilized by school administrators for discretionary discipline consequences that feed the school-to-prison pipeline. The researcher utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to investigate factors that influence campus administrators’ decision to use of exclusionary discipline through a series of semi-structured interviews. Through data analysis, three themes emerged: (1) Principals’ Impact on Student Discipline (2) Principals’ Considerations Before Using Exclusionary Discipline (3) Principals Lack of Training.

Rejection, Creation, And Abolitionist Futures: Sustaining Ecosystems Of Care Under Neoliberal Violence 1980-Present, Maya Phelps

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

The enforcement of the child welfare system through policies, funding practices, and ideologies is a national investment in the nuclear family as a critical social institution to the United States (US); this investment communicates to the broader population that conforming to this heteropatriarchal, white supremacist conception of family provides protection from state intervention to those who conform. My project interrogates child welfare’s enforcement of normative families, and the resistance from Black family formations and kinship based on their social position and its relation to power. Focusing on the period between 1980 and the present, I examine the ways Black family …

Exploring The Impact Of Subject Placement On Exam Questions​, Briana M. Craig, Jeremy L. Hsu

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Quizzes and exams are crucial elements of undergraduate biology courses; however, little research has been done exploring the importance of the phrasing used in the questions on these assessments. Question framing has the potential to impact student performance and sense of belonging greatly. In this study, we conducted an experiment where we created three versions of the exact same question except for the framing for the experimental scenarios. One version was written with self-referential framing using the term “you,” simulating the student conducting the experiment; another version used classmate-referential framing, placing one of their peers in the experiment; the third …