Education Commons^™

2023-2024 Common Data Set, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Common Data Sets

This document contains data compiled by the SWOSU Office of Institutional Research for the 2023-2024 academic year.

An Analysis Of K-8 School Transportation: Understanding The Need, Gauging The Effectiveness, And Defining Best Practice, Leeann D. Taylor

Dissertations of Practice

School transportation plays a critical role in schools, helping students gain access to their education and school sponsored extracurricular activities each day. This study examined the history, need, and future of school-provided transportation in efforts to establish the components of a tool by which districts can gauge the effectiveness of current transportation practices. To organize the research, data, and final framework in the most meaningful way, the final product was divided into three individual papers.

Paper 1 reviews the existing literature reviewed the history, significance, and anticipated developments in the field of school transportation. Paper 2 curates the results of …

Learning To Lead With An Equity Lens: A Case Study Of A Principal Residency Program, Maurice L. Davis

Dissertations of Practice

School districts throughout the United States are challenged with the plague of educator turnover. In particular, building principals are exiting school buildings causing gaps in system consistencies leading to negative perceptions of school culture and decreases in student achievement. Universities are working to assess and redevelop principal preparation programs (PPPs) to support principals and the skill sets needed to be successful within schools today. By increasing the skill of a building principal to lead using an equity lens and developing theories of action to address the frustration initiated by urban school working conditions, principals may develop a greater sense of …

A Braven New World: A Qualitative Case Study Of Career Readiness Efforts On Career Identity And Career Self-Efficacy For Students At A 4-Year Public University, Catherine W. Doederlein

Dissertations of Practice

A Braven New World: A Qualitative Case Study of Career Readiness Efforts on Career Identity and Career Self-Efficacy for Students at a 4-Year Public University

With much of the research on career courses being quantitative in nature, the purpose of this dissertation was to use a qualitative case study approach to understand, through student voices, how participation in a career preparation course can contribute to a college student’s career self-efficacy, career identity, and personal agency in pursuit of their intended career path. Findings revealed that students developed a more authentic confidence about their career development, experienced enhancement to their career …

A Qualitative Case Study Of The Equity-Minded Institute Faculty Reflections: Designing Transformative Faculty Learning Communities, Maria Aguilar Beltran

Dissertations of Practice

A promising professional learning practice that supports faculty transformation are Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) which have the potential to cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness, holistic critical reflection, and equity-minded andragogical changes. However, the research is limited and mostly focused on university faculty. For this reason, this qualitative case study can contribute to the much-needed research focused on the reflections and experiences of California community college faculty at West Coast College (pseudonym). The data was collected via interviews and post interview reflection recordings from nine faculty that participated in one of two cohorts of a yearlong Equity-Minded Institute at WCC. …

Teachers' Perceptions Regarding Legal Literacy Surrounding Student Discipline In Illinois, Ayla Peczkowski

Dissertations of Practice

Teachers' Perceptions Regarding Legal Literacy Surrounding Student Discipline in Illinois

Research has shown that students of color and minority students receive exclusionary discipline at a disproportionate rate compared to their other peers. Research has also shown that exclusionary discipline contributes to the Pipeline to Prison, setting the trajectory for our students of color, as early as their school days. However, action has been taken by Illinois, Senate Bill 100, in order to address this disproportionate discipline. In addition to state protection, students have Federal rights and protections when it comes to school discipline. However, one question is if public school …

The Intersectionality Of Language And Special Education: An Exploration Of How Systems Shape Teachers’ Perceptions And How Perceptions Shape Educational Practice, Leticia Valadez

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF LANGUAGE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION: AN EXPLORATION OF HOW SYSTEMS SHAPE TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND HOW PERCEPTIONS SHAPE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE

Leticia Valadez, Ed.D. Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Dr. Tiffany Puckett, Director

This dissertation examines the relationship between systemic structures and teachers’ perceptions and how those perceptions shape educational practice. It explores those relationships through the educational experiences of language learners with learning disabilities and the perspectives of educators and school leaders in preschool through fifth-grade settings tasked with meeting their complex educational needs. This dissertation is organized into three papers. Paper …

Exploring How Out-Of-Class Student Engagement Shapes Undocumented Students' Sense Of Belonging, Taylor D. Hartman

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

EXPLORING HOW OUT-OF-CLASS STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SHAPES UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS’ SENSE OF BELONGING

Taylor D. Hartman, EdD
Department of Counseling and Higher Education
Northern Illinois University, 2023
Carrie A. Kortegast, Director

This dissertation explores how out-of-class student engagement shapes undocumented students’ sense of belonging at a public four-year university in the Midwest. The goal of this study is to understand the out-of-class student engagement experiences of the participants in relation to their sense of belonging. This study is significant as further research is needed to understand undocumented students’ experiences with out-of-class engagement, or lack thereof, may shape their sense of belonging. …

You Belong Here: How The African American Success Unit Supports A Sense Of Belonging For Black Men At An Urban Institution In Chicago, Joyce Elam

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

YOU BELONG HERE: HOW THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SUCCESS UNIT SUPPORTS A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR BLACK MEN AT AN

URBAN INSTITUTION IN CHICAGO

Joyce Elam, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Jacqueline Mac, Director

This case study focuses on Black men and their experience of connectiveness, inclusion and belonging as a student at an institution where they account for a significantly low percent of the student body. The research found that departments dedicated to the support of Black men students is significant in their acceptance and Black identity while on campus. This study found …

“We Are All Sort Of Figuring It Out Together”: A Case Study On How An Experiential Learning Course Shapes Career Readiness For Photography Students, Rebecca Reuland

Dissertations of Practice

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how participation in an experiential learning course fosters career readiness for photography majors. Data was collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis of course-assigned reflection papers. Using a conceptual framework of NACE’s (National Association of Colleges and Employers) career readiness competencies, this study investigated how the course structure and working with models and peers fostered career readiness. This study also explored how students described their career readiness. Overall, three findings surfaced from the data that showcased that experiential learning courses can: foster interpersonal communication skills, foster collaboration, and confidence …

It Takes A Village: Understanding Community College Chief Diversity Officers’ Experiences With Mentoring Relationships, Keith R. Barnes Dr.

Dissertations of Practice

This interpretive phenomenological analysis explores community college CDOs’ experiences with mentoring relationships. Seven CDOs employed at community colleges in the US Midwest Region participated in a semi-structured interview to share how they made meaning of their mentoring experiences and their impact on their career and psychosocial development. The findings highlighted two pivotal moments when the community college CDOs in the study received mentoring experiences to form an evolutionary process: the onboarding phase, when the participants sought mentoring relationships from the institution, and the sustaining phase, when the participants were more self-directed in securing high-quality mentoring experiences. The findings illuminated five …

Teacher Perception On Role Strain, Self-Efficacy, And Class Composition: A Closer Look At The Impact On K-5 Teachers’ Remote Teaching Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Suzana Ts Thomas Peterson

Dissertations of Practice

TEACHER PERCEPTION ON ROLE STRAIN, SELF-EFFICACY, AND CLASS COMPOSITION: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON K-5 TEACHERS’

REMOTE TEACHING EXPERIENCES DURING THE

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Suzana Tyler Stojovic Thomas Peterson, Ed.D.

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024 Tiffany Puckett, Director

This mixed methods causal-comparative study addresses the significant gap in understanding the impact of class composition on the self-efficacy of K-5 teachers in remote settings during the COVID-19 pandemic while exploring the mediating role of role strain in the relationship between class composition and teacher self-efficacy. The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an unprecedented shift to remote …

Lean On Me: The Importance Of An Informal Social Support Group From The Community College Workplace For Black Women Doctoral Students (Bwds) To Foster Degree Completion, Terrica J. Huntley

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study investigates the importance and impact of social supports from the Mountain View Community College (Pseudonym) on Black Women employees who have completed doctoral studies, are currently pursuing doctoral degrees and are considering the pursuit of doctoral education as a vehicle to foster degree completion. Six Black Women employed at the college engaged in conversation through SistaCircles to discuss the impact of being a black woman and working professional at the community college on their degree attainment. The impact of social supports within the workplace were also discussed. The findings of the study illuminated the following themes: 1. …

The Hip Hop Collective, Veronica Bjorkman

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

THE HIP HOP COLLECTIVE

Veronica Bjorkman, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2024

Gudrun Nyunt, Director

This qualitative case study, guided by Gloria Ladson-Billings’s culturally relevant pedagogy, examined the pedagogical approaches in a Hip Hop music course called the Hip Hop Collective, at a large Midwestern predominantly white public institution. Data was collected via interviews and focus groups with 13 university students, one university faculty member, and two community members along with in-class and out-of-class observations. Three primary themes emerged from the research: (a) the Hip Hop Collective course fostered students’ collaboration skills and their …

Caroline Ramminger Senior Capstone Portfolio, Caroline Ramminger

Senior Art Portfolios

2024 Senior Art Education Capstone

Retaining Lgbtqqia+ Faculty To Tenure And Beyond, Kristopher Hall, Asha Dickerson, Alfonso Ferguson, Isaac Conlon-Kvale, Carolyn Dolejs, Danielle Hanji Kim, Januela Burt

School of Leadership and Education Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

In recent years, academia has attempted to be more open and accepting of diverse identities to better serve the campus community. To this end, there has been increased programming to focus on inclusiveness of marginalized identities such as LGBTQQIA+. However, much of this programming has centered on the student experience and neglected tenure-seeking faculty, who are generally used to carrying out such programming rather than benefiting from it. The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of tenure-seeking counselor education faculty during their tenure-seeking process. Using consensual qualitative research (CQR) as an analytical framework, the authors found …

College Students Formerly In Foster Care And Basic Needs Insecurity, Jodi M. Wolkerstorfer

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study explored the role of foster care experience for undergraduate college students who struggle with housing and/or food insecurity. Using data from the 2019-2020 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20), this research analyzed the relationship between college students who have prior experience as an orphan, ward of court, emancipated minor, legal guardianship or foster care, and housing insecurity, food insecurity, and the co-occurrence of housing and food insecurity. Using chi-square analyses, the results showed that there is a significant (p

Talking Leadership: Voices Of High School Athletes (And Their Coaches), Ann Senn

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Every organization in every geography and discipline is challenged to develop leaders who can be effective in complex situations. The ethical conduct of appointed leaders is of particular concern. While some individuals possess natural leadership qualities, anyone can build leadership capacity if they put in the work and have the opportunity. Adolescents and even young children can develop foundational leadership skills; in fact, research suggests that it is vital they do so as these skills correlate with later success in both professional and personal pursuits. Youth sports programs are a promising platform for developing leadership capacity due to strong participation …

Investigating The Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence And Burnout Among Special Education Teachers In Iowa, Erica M. Boettcher

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emotional intelligence (EI) can play a critical role in the well-being of teachers and may significantly impact the risk of burnout. Teachers with higher EI are better equipped to manage stress, regulate their emotions, and navigate challenges of the classroom, with the intended result to reduce teachers’ emotional exhaustion. Conversely, teachers with lower EI may struggle to cope with the emotional demands of the job, leading them to burnout in the profession they spent years preparing for. Recognizing this connection helps educators understand the importance of supporting teachers in developing EI skills, which could enhance their resilience and overall job …

Hybrid Science Discourse In Middle School Classrooms: A Mixed Methods Nlp Exploration, Kamil Hankour, Rachel Niemira, Singith Perara, Kimberly Williamson, Morgan Debusk-Lane, Christine Lee Bae

Education Graduate Presentations

The purpose of this study is to explore applications of natural language processing (NLP), a computer-assisted analytical technique aimed to automatically process, analyze, and comprehend textual data (Liu & Cohen, 2021; Manning et al., 1999) for providing new insights into science classroom discourse processes, including how agency is distributed among the teachers and their students and how students engage in science talk (e.g., Patall et al., 2019; Stroupe, 2014), and combining these analyses with qualitative follow-ups to uncover why these patterns might occur, with a particular focus on how these processes construct hybrid discourse spaces. Hybridity theory is a useful …

From Classroom To Community: Service-Learning And The Sustainable Development Goals, Genejane M. Adarlo, Jeannette Nina Delos Reyes, Kevin Christopher Go, Genesis Kelly Lontoc, Nota F. Magno, Mark Anthony D. Abenir, Sabrina Kate Paner-Montiel, Noelle Flores

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is crucial for equipping individuals with the competences needed to address the pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges of our time. Despite the recognized potential of service-learning in cultivating competences that can promote sustainable development, there is a lack of empirical research exploring the development of these competences among students. Hence, this study examined the effectiveness of service-learning as a pedagogical approach to ESD in fostering essential competences among students. The research involved 43 groups of students, who engaged in addressing various sustainable development issues through service-learning. A thematic analysis of students’ written reflections revealed …

Enhancing Patient Experience Through Ehr Implementation In Rwandan Rural Health Posts: A Comprehensive Learning Program For Improving The Ehr Adoption, Mugeni Samantha Niyoyita

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This research project aims to develop a tailored learning program for staff at rural health posts (HPs) to ensure the smooth adoption of an Electronic Health Records (EHR). It supports Rwanda's effort to expand Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and aligns with the Ministry of Health's Digitization Directorate General (DDG) program, which focuses on secure data access, continuity of care, and evidence-based decision-making.

Using a design thinking approach, the learning program is centered on the needs of healthcare workers, gathered through interviews and surveys with both the HP staff and the EHR designers. Research identified different levels of digital literacy and …

Empowering Kokal: A Decolonized, Community-Led Development Model In Homa Bay County, Kenya, Kennedy Miruka

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In Homa Bay County, Kenya, a community-led development initiative called the Power Centre is transforming the fight against poverty and powerlessness. Grounded in principles of decolonization and participatory action, this project addresses the root causes of marginalization by empowering residents of Kokal Village to become active agents of change. Through a robust mixed-methods research approach, the project identifies systemic challenges and leverages existing social networks to build a sustainable, locally-owned model for development. The Power Centre implements a three-pronged strategy, focusing on increasing community participation, strengthening existing groups, and fostering collaborative networks to weave a robust support system. By addressing …

Power Centres: A Collaborative Development Proposal For Addressing Poverty And Related Challenges In Rural Communities In Kenya, Kennedy Okello Miruka, Kennedy Okello Miruka

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

In Homa Bay County, Kenya, a community-led development initiative called the Power Centre is transforming the fight against poverty and powerlessness. Grounded in principles of decolonization and participatory action, this project addresses the root causes of marginalization by empowering residents of Kokal Village to become active agents of change. Through a robust mixed-methods research approach, the project identifies systemic challenges and leverages existing social networks to build a sustainable, locally-owned model for development. The Power Centre implements a three-pronged strategy, focusing on increasing community participation, strengthening existing groups, and fostering collaborative networks to weave a robust support system. By addressing …

Empowering English Proficiency: A Program To Excellence In The Vietnam Mekong Delta For Advancing English Proficiency For Future Generations, Dang Thai Bao Vy

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This thesis outlines the three primary strategies for FPT University in Vietnam to implement a successful "Abroad English Semester Program" (AbES) for her undergraduate students. The first strategy focuses on program design, emphasizing a well-structured curriculum that balances language skills and cultural immersion. The second strategy involves student selection, setting clear English proficiency benchmarks and conducting interviews to ensure student motivation and suitability. The third strategy addresses logistics and support, including partnering with universities, providing pre-departure training, and offering ongoing assistance. The key components in this thesis are inclusive of comprehensive program design, language immersion, skill development, student selection, evaluations …

Factors That Inhibit And Support The Work Of School-Based Mental Health Providers, David B. Naff, Jennifer Murphy, Alexandra Javna, Wyatt Aldrich, Erin Standish, Jeen Joy, Ciana Cross, Sandra Saji

MERC Publications

This research brief comes from the MERC Supporting Mental Health in Schools study. Launched in 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores research-based strategies for supporting mental health in PK-12 school settings, as well as the emotional and professional capacity of PK-12 faculty and staff in the MERC region to support the social and emotional wellness of their students. This brief shares takeaways from a systematic literature review that highlight the factors that inhibit and support the work of school-based mental health providers, including school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists. It outlines the roles …

Understanding The Role Of Out Of School Time (Ost) Providers In Urban School Systems In A Post-Covid Context, David Naff, Rachel Hale, Jamelle Simmons, Alicia Gaston, Latonja Y. Wright, Kiana Bradford, Crystal R. Bell, Jill Flynn, Chuck Creasy, Yadira Guerrero, Rory Dunn, Pamela Weaver

MERC Publications

This research and policy brief by the Institute for Collaborative Research and Evaluation and the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Richmond focuses on the role of out-of-school time (OST) providers in urban school settings in a post COVID-19 context. It is structured to explore the following questions: 1) What are out-of-school time providers and what role do they play in urban school contexts? 2) What policies guide out-of-school time programming at the federal, state, and division level? 3) How have trends and outcomes related to out-of-school time programming changed relative to …

Odu Department Of English Newsletter (2024-2025 - Issue No. 2), Veronica Watson, Don Rodrigues, Cristina Rodriguez Velez, Aliya Head, Amy Wilson, Ashley Jones, Bridget Dolan, Devin Hickey, Katherine Barnett

Department of English Newsletter

ODU English Department's 2024-2025 Annual Newsletter. The newsletter covers new courses, events, awards, students & faculty news and much more.

Workplace Implications For Female Leaders: Exploration Of Stereotype Threat Within Video Conferencing., Roisin Donnelly, Anthony Ryan

Journal Articles

A significant body of research has documented the effect to which stereotype threat can be triggered by both the physical environment and by the use of various technology media. However, there is a dearth of research exploring the relationship between stereotype threat, defined here as “the concrete, real-time threat of being judged and treated poorly in settings where a negative stereotype about one’s group applies” (Steele, Spencer & Aronson, 2002, p.385), and video conferencing software features - specifically virtual backgrounds. This literature review suggested that this feature might, in certain circumstances, negatively affect the performance of groups not stereotypically associated …

Rethinking Core Curriculum Design In An Undergraduate Business And Management Programme In A Technological University In Ireland, Pat Kenny, Joe Fitzgerald, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Roisin Donnelly

Presentations

This presentation will share current design thinking on a longstanding, highly regarded undergraduate programme in Business and Management in a Technological University in Ireland. Technological universities offer programmes that are vocationally and professionally oriented. The 4-year programme has remained consistently popular with students throughout the life cycle of recruitment, orientation, delivery and performance. There is a strong legacy in case teaching and inquiry learning in this programme. This is evidenced through group discussion and solving of complex problems, and current case studies facilitate development of the higher levels of cognitive, interdisciplinary learning. They are used to highlight connections between specific …