Education Commons^™

Translanguaging As An Elementary Language Immersion Writing Approach, Lauren Hughes

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies have indicated that implementing translanguaging practices in language immersion programs impacts student writing. However, the overall body of research remains sparse. Because of the limited body of research, opposing ideologies around translanguaging practices create barriers to implementing such practices in school programs. This study explores and evaluates various translanguaging practices and their impact on student development, including multilingual identity and academic achievement, through a comprehensive literature review of existing research. The language immersion settings for the studies included in this research range from elementary schools to universities focusing on elementary immersion programs. Upon completing the literature review, the researcher …

Long-Term English Learners: Identifying And Reducing Risk Factors, Teresa Faith Depuydt

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Some English Learners (ELs) become Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) instead of being reclassified as English language proficient in a timely manner (within five years). This master’s thesis researches risk factors that may cause ELs to become LTELs and ways those risk factors can be reduced. Firstly, the level of academic language proficiency that a student brings with them when they first enter school is a predictive factor; students who enter school with a higher level of academic language proficiency in both their home language and English tend to reclassify within five years. Students with lower levels of proficiency often become …

The Intersection Of Health And Education: How School-Based Health Centers Address Health Disparities To Promote Learning, Sophie A. Koloski

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through a review of studies and literature, this thesis examines the role of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in addressing disparities in health and education among student populations. By integrating public health services within educational settings, SBHCs aim to enhance both student well-being and academic achievement. This comprehensive review explores the history, services, and funding models of SBHCs, alongside their impact on physical and mental health, school connectedness, and academic outcomes. Findings reveal that SBHCs significantly improve access to preventive and intervention-based health care, reduce barriers to education, and foster environments that support student engagement and success. Furthermore, the review discusses …

The Impact Of Poverty On Educational Achievement: Understanding Socio-Economic Barriers And Opportunities For Change, Amanda Sanz

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how poverty impacts education from preschool through high school and looks at factors such as home environment, early childhood education access, and mental health issues that contribute to the achievement gap. It draws attention to the ways that problems like food insecurity, unstable housing, and a lack of parental participation impact students' academic, emotional, and cognitive growth. The effectiveness and limitations of current programs, such as Head Start and Title I, in filling these gaps are reviewed. The study further emphasizes the need for equitable policies regarding education, school-based mental health resources, and early interventions in helping …

Narratives That Perpetuate, Narratives That Disrupt, And Narratives That Heal: One Teacher’S Exploration Of Decoloniality, Alison Packwood Henry

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The initial question was innocent enough, at least on the surface: How do scholars and practitioners define child centered, developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive education in places distant from my home in the US? I was originally inspired to ask this question by my graduate students—aspiring and practicing Waldorf teachers—who were wrestling with the Eurocentric nature of the curriculum. In researching this question, I never imagined that I would find myself asking questions about the decolonization and indigenization of education, much less about coloniality. In fact, even as I completed the literature review, I was still so unfamiliar with the word …

The Pulse Of Connection: Professors' Experience Of Positive Relationships With Students–An Interpretative Phenomenology And Photovoice Study, Ileya N. Grosman

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

In higher education, the focus on student success often takes center stage in research and the professor-as-teacher practice. While numerous empirical studies concentrate on the growth and development of undergraduate students, this dissertation delves into professors’ relational and felt experiences in positive teaching-learning relationships. Four terminal-degreed professors from four different schools and three different disciplines–education, humanities, and leadership–engaged in photography and were then interviewed. Participants reflected on their photographs and their experiences in a teaching-learning relationship with their students. The present study aimed to illuminate the unspoken language of connection by utilizing interpretive phenomenology and photovoice to uncover professors’ relational …

Enhancing Planetary Well-Being Through "With-Ness" Pedagogy In Social Emotional Learning: Critical Theoretical Engagements, Lynsey Helen Mori

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Leveraging the researcher’s unique diverse cultural and educational background, this dissertation explores integrating social emotional learning (SEL) within an innovative pedagogy of “with-ness” (PoW) towards planetary well-being in educational settings. The overarching purpose is to redefine educational strategies through SEL and PoW to advance planetary well-being in tertiary contexts. As such, this dissertation critically engages with three published articles authored during the researcher’s doctoral tenure to highlight transformative SEL practices that are fundamentally attuned to ecological consciousness. Informed by critical theory, feminist perspectives, and process philosophy, the hermeneutic circle reflects on these articles to address complex 21st-century challenges educational systems …

Needs Assessment For Sexual Violence Trauma-Informed Care In The Dental Field, Joshua Garufi

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Trauma-informed care provides a framework for health care providers to more effectively treat their patients who have a history of trauma (Hamberger et al., 2019). Upon reviewing the literature, there is a paucity of research on trauma-informed care in the dental field. This research performed a needs assessment to determine if trauma-informed care is being implemented into the curriculum at a specific dental school, SUNY Buffalo. This research also inquired about residential dentist and faculty attitudes toward trauma-informed care being implemented in the dental field. Two short, original surveys were administered to residential dentists who recently graduated from the University …

An Exploration Of Misconceptions In Introductory Physics, Christopher Mattthew Wheatley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study of student misconceptions about physics concepts has long been an important area of inquiry in physics education research (PER). The research discussed in this dissertation builds upon the developments in PER by exploring the prevalence of consistently held undergraduate student misconceptions in introductory calculus-based physics. This thesis explores the nature of student misconceptions, mistakes, and naive answering patterns in both introductory undergraduate Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism by applying a network analytic technique called module analysis to student responses to different concept inventories from institutions of various levels of incoming physics preparation. Each study applying these methods also demonstrates …

The Perceived Effects Of Peer-Assisted Learning In A Collegiate Instrumental Pedagogy Classroom, Hannah Wagoner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is an approach that teachers can use in the classroom to increase students’ ownership of their learning. Besides increased autonomy, PAL can provide several other academic and social benefits, such as increased achievement and fostering a sense of community. This study aimed to examine the effects of PAL on college students’ performance on a secondary instrument. Five students in a collegiate instrumental pedagogy course experienced PAL activities in class while learning secondary instruments. After a statistical and content analysis of all the data, results showed that 1) all but one of the participants improved in their performance …

Rural Student Postsecondary Decision-Making: Navigating Narratives Of The Purpose And Value Of Higher Education, Ashley Renee Leggett-Bradley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The narrative surrounding the purpose and place of higher education has shifted dramatically over the past few decades, despite the persistent perceptions of the necessity of an educated society. With these shifts and conflicting narratives comes the question of how students are influenced by these narratives as they make their postsecondary decisions. This study seeks to illuminate the unique way that rural students receive, understand, and are influenced by these potentially conflicting narratives through a qualitative multi-site case study. All three sites are located within the North Central Appalachian portion of the state of West Virginia, and encompass a range …

A Test Of The Extended Theoretical Model Of Communal Coping Among Graduate Students: Investigating The Influence Of Communal Coping On Graduate Students’ Psychological Well-Being, Rebekah M. Chiasson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The purpose of this dissertation was to test the extended theoretical model of communal coping (T. Afifi et al., 2020) in a graduate student sample by exploring predictors and outcomes of communal coping processes among 554 graduate students. The extended theoretical model of communal coping specifies that communal coping occurs when individuals within a community—such as graduate students within an academic program—perceive stressors as shared and are willing to take joint action to overcome those stressors. Results of this dissertation provided evidence that graduate students’ academic stress and the severity of individual academic stressors negatively impacted their psychological well-being. The …

Encouraging Equity Through Rural Elementary Professional Learning, Jana K. Stone

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study employed design-based research to explore the efficacy of professional learning materials and approaches in developing social justice advocacy with rural elementary teachers in Appalachia. Bronfenbrenner’s (2005) bioecological theory and Boler’s (1999) pedagogy of discomfort formed the theoretical framework for the design, implementation, and analysis. Mid-way through the study, Allport’s (1954) contact hypothesis was included to inform the revision of intervention approaches. Four elementary teachers attended seven in-person informational discussion meetings over five months. During this time, these teachers also read two books and completed journal responses and surveys. The qualitative data was analyzed using Braun and Clark’s (2006) …

Usage Of Peer Mentoring Workbooks: Enhancing The Transition Of College Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Taylor Nicole Grout

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This doctoral capstone project assesses the impact and effectiveness of using peer mentoring workbooks as a tool to enhance the transition of college students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A peer mentoring workbook was developed using theoretical frameworks to guide its design and identification of primary occupations, roles, and routines of college students. From here, four domains of college student life (dorm living, college social life, classroom management and participation, and community engagement and transportation) were developed to act as a framework for the workbook. Through the usage of Participatory Action Research, key stakeholders provided essential feedback that allowed for …

Ready Oer Not: Engaging Teachers With Student Identity Through Open Pedagogy, Emily Helton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research project centers on in-service K-12 teachers’ experiences of a continuing education course about open education resources (OER) and how to use them in ways that support students’ ability to use identity resources while engaging with disciplinary learning experiences. Using a qualitative design-based research approach, I sought to both improve the course and examine how teachers took up the ideas from the course in their planning and teaching. While OER are valuable resources for K-12 teachers in and of themselves because they are free and often available in easily adapted formats, their licensing typically allows edited versions to be …

Developing The 21st Century Piano Studio, Brianna Mae Eddy

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores the needs of the contemporary piano studio, including business policies, the use of technologies, mental health and neurodivergence in students, and the influence and use of social media. Focused on the needs of both the private-studio piano teacher and traveling piano teacher, the paper offers insight into studio ownership and management with an emphasis on providing experiences that meet the needs of contemporary students. The paper includes a brief history of private piano instruction as well as information for developing studio policies, business issues related to current tax requirements and forms, and resources for financial and general …

Reformed-Based Approaches To The Teaching And Learning Of Science, Sahar Vali

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative practice-based study explores the efficacy of reformed-based science teaching approaches in fostering meaningful student engagement within elementary science classrooms, framed within the science-as-practice paradigm. Utilizing three theoretical frameworks, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Ambitious Science Teaching (AST), and the Teacher Noticing, this research investigates how these frameworks influence student engagement in scientific disciplinary practices. The study draws on data from an NSF-funded project on teacher noticing in fifth-grade classrooms in West Virginia. Through a practice-based research approach, the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical practices and student engagement in science and engineering practices as outlined by NGSS and …

Teaching Cultural Humility Practices In Appalachia: The Value Of Conducting Conversations Based In Education, Bailey A. Riggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Recent literature highlights the paradigm shift from utilizing cultural competence practices to cultural humility practices within the field of occupational therapy, and health sciences (Fisher- Borne, et al., 2015). The idea of cultural competency suggests that culture is unchanging, and individuals can master cultural knowledge. The perception of knowing culture can be perceived as an unwillingness to learn about culture. In contrast, cultural humility promotes the value of lifelong learning and introspection, encouraging greater self-awareness, reflection of personal biases, and recognition of power imbalances. This approach aims to better integrate educational approaches to serve diverse populations in a culturally affirming …

Women In Extension Persevering In Leadership Roles, Lexis Danielle Trickett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the last several decades, the rates at which women have been pursuing higher levels of education have steadily increased. However, there is a discrepancy between the number of women graduating, and the amount entering the workforce, specifically in leadership roles. The purpose of this study was to share a current profile of women in the West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service by allowing them to describe their career journeys, supports and barriers they may or may not have faced, and mentoring experiences. By using a non-experimental quantitative methodology, a population of male and female Extension Agents and Specialists were surveyed …

Burnout Among West Virginia Art Teachers In A Post-Pandemic World, Kevin Richard Trautwein

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Addressing the issue of teacher burnout is crucial for maintaining a healthy and effective educational environment for both teachers and students. Millions of teachers in the United States feel the negative effects of burnout, especially art educators. Teacher burnout is a significant issue because it can have serious negative impacts on both teachers and students. The art education field is unique in that their style of teaching looks different compared to other subject areas. The art classroom is commonly viewed as a place to decompress, play with art materials, and bring out one's own creativity. It is also viewed as …

On Confidence And Sense Of Belonging In Cybersecurity Students: Analysis & Prediction, Sadaf Amna Sarwari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion of cybersecurity programs across higher education institutions in response to the widening skills gap in the cybersecurity job market. This study adopts quantitative and qualitative approaches to identify factors influencing West Virginia University (WVU)’s LANE Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (LCSEE) students’ confidence and sense of belonging in the cybersecurity field. The results are based on data collected from surveys administered to LCSEE students in April 2022 and April 2023. The responses were analyzed using descriptive & inferential statistics and logistic regression techniques. Additionally, the 2023 data was utilized …

How Virtual Reality Simulations Prepare Teachers In Teacher Preparation Programs For Inclusive Classrooms, Lorilei G. Thompson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Teacher preparation programs are ever evolving based on research and student needs. The use of technology, such as virtual reality (VR), is at the forefront of education to help provide opportunities for teacher candidates to practice teaching in a semi-authentic classroom environment of students with and without exceptionalities. VR is a way for teacher candidates to practice teaching in a structured and conceivably less stressful environment in comparison to a real brick and mortar inclusive classroom. This qualitative study utilizes interviewing with video cuing for two novice teacher participants who went through the same inclusive education course at a major …

Improving Patient Self-Advocacy And Communication With Providers Through Diabetes Self-Management Education: Analyses From A Randomized Controlled Trial, Brenna Owens Kirk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background: West Virginia (WV), a rural state in Appalachia, has the highest type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence in the United States. Open communication in the patient-provider relationship is an integral part of comprehensive chronic disease management. This is especially true for patients living with T2DM, a disease that requires many complex, daily self-management activities and is associated with increased emotional distress. However, patients living with T2DM are often reluctant to openly share their concerns regarding self-care with their provider. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of the Diabetes and Hypertension Self-Management Program (DHSMP), a 12-week group lifestyle …

Using Touchmath® As An Intervention For Students With Disabilities At A Public Montessori School, Anne M. Cox

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Students with high-incidence disabilities enrolled in public Montessori elementary schools do not always make adequate growth in mathematics using traditional Montessori materials and instruction. While direct instruction methods are not typically used in a Montessori setting, such teaching practices have been proven to be successful when teaching students with disabilities.

This study analyzed the effects of an evidence-based math intervention, TouchMath^®, on the addition fact fluency and acquisition of double-digit addition skills of elementary students with disabilities who receive small-group special education instruction in a public Montessori school. The students’ confidence levels before and after receiving the intervention …

The Experiences Of Women College Presidents While Leading Through An Institutional Crisis: The Perceived Successes And Failures Of Crisis Communication Strategies, Madison Marie Speck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This multi-site case study explored the uncommonly discussed yet organic intersection between the study of crisis communication and the study of crisis leadership and in turn, what it means in the context of a college presidency. This study has a unique focus on women presidents at small, private colleges and the ways in which they communicate with various stakeholders during a crisis environment. The research is guided by Boin’s Model of Crisis Leadership which guides and assesses crisis leadership performance; however this study introduces nuances to the framework that are suggested as a result of the findings; most of which …

The Relationship Between Social Justice Attitudes And Compassion In Preservice Teachers: A Critically Compassionate Intellectualism Framework, Megan Hut

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This dissertation aims to gain further knowledge about the implementation of the Critically Compassionate Intellectualism (CCI; Cammarota & Romero, 2003) framework in teacher education. This framework, originally developed to provide a better education for Latine students who were being silenced in their original schools, emphasizes authentic caring, critical pedagogy, and social justice content. CCI aims to provide students with an education that better equips them to be part of our democratic society and is supposed to lead to an increase in students’ critical consciousness through developing compassionate relationships and making content related to students’ experiences. Based on the success of …

Overturning Race-Conscious Admissions: Analyzing The History Of Higher Education Affirmative Acton Legal Discourse And Preserving Whiteness, Hiba A. Qari

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although researchers have investigated Affirmative Action, few have attempted to understand and explain the language mechanisms shaping public opinion and policy. The purpose of this study was to explore the historical context of higher education Affirmative Action legal discourse. This study employed Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Race Theory to analyze how language and race, as social constructs, maintain White dominance in law and higher education. The thematic concepts included power, White normativity, and diversity rhetoric. This project explored the historical evolution of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on Affirmative Action policy in higher education. The study also investigated the …

From Trails To Triumph: Documenting Two Decades Of Impact With Adventure Wv, Sean Lowdermilk

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This research paper and accompanying short film (https://youtu.be/gTnXbvkX0MA) examines the impact of experiential learning through the lens of Adventure WV, an outdoor orientation program at West Virginia University. Using Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory as a foundation for the research, this study explores how outdoor and expeditionary learning fosters personal and professional growth, builds a community, and deepens students' connection to the state and the institution. Through interviews with the program's founder, as well as current students and administration paired with archival footage and modern video, the research highlights Adventure WV's role in student retention, professional development, and student …

Implementation Of A Targeted “Micro-Learning” Inpatient Diabetes Education Program In A Rural Hospital Setting, Melissa Lynn Fannon-Wisner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Introduction/Background: Diabetes affects a large portion of Americans and West Virginians annually. Inpatient hospitalization provides an opportunity to provide evidence-based diabetes education to patients. A lack of access to diabetes education at rural hospitals across the United States exists, creating a need for patients who require education while hospitalized. An intervention needs to be explored to bridge the gap for patients that need education when the diabetes educator is not available.

Purpose: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project is to create and implement a video micro-learning diabetic education series that can be utilized for diabetes self-management …

Systems Check: A Qualitative Case Study Of Educators And Parent-Educators Supporting Adolescent Readers From An Ecological Systems Perspective, Kristi Nicole Grooms

Theses and Dissertations

In spite of decades of research and an abundance of well-intentioned intervention efforts, supporting adolescent readers, particularly at the middle level, remains a significant area of concern for educators in the United States. The struggles are present for educators working to help underperforming readers reach grade-level and keep advanced readers motivated and engaged. At home, parents and guardians experience similar challenges. Data on adolescent comprehension performance continues to be frustrating in terms of producing consistent positive results. This qualitative action research study investigated the ongoing challenge of supporting adolescent readers, specifically within the context of 7th grade, through a systems …