Education Commons^™

Redefining The "Good Kids": A Mixed Methods Improvement Science Study In Mitigating Implicit Bias In Behavior Management Practices, Gabrielle Renee Delgado

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) focused on the problem of educator bias as it pertains to behavior management and discipline, specifically for Black and Hispanic/Latine students as well as students with disabilities. A root cause analysis coupled with a review of existing literature situated this problem within Clark High School and justified further intervention. This study used an improvement science framework, action research methodology, and a convergent mixed-methods design to explore the implementation of tier II of school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (SWPBIS) at Clark High School and its potential impact on educators’ awareness of implicit biases …

Empowering Parents As Partners In Learning: Practices For Developing A Robust Home Learning Environment, Jennifer L. Bencivengo

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Parents are often considered a child’s first teacher. However, not all parents are equipped with adequate strategies or have access to equitable resources to provide a rich home learning environment for their children. Bodies of research consistently identify discrepancies in kindergarten readiness from a social, emotional, and academic learning vantage point when discussing foundational literacy skills, the overreliance on technology, and developmentally appropriate executive functioning skills (Bassok & Reardon, 2013a; Jung, 2016; Reardon & Portilla, 2016a; Wolf & McCoy, 2019a). In an attempt to address the inequities in school readiness has more recently been examined with focus on community based …

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring The Impact Of Trauma Literacy And Mindfulness On Perceptions Of Educator Work-Related Stress, Carla Ann Roland

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice study aimed to examine a possible solution to reducing the negative effects of trauma and toxic stress on a child’s education through an intervention aimed at advancing educators’ trauma literacy inclusive of educator self-care. Using a mixed-methods explanatory sequential research design, the researcher investigated the impact the Trauma Literacy Professional Development and Mindfulness Educational Group had on the educators’ perceptions of educator work-related stress. The researcher utilized a pre- and post-intervention survey measure, group discussion group field notes, and semi-structured interviews with participants to answer the proposed research questions. Quantitative results of this study …

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: Promoting Teacher Retention And Preventing Burnout Among Elementary And Middle School Educators, Jacki L. Spring

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This study aims to increase retention by providing teachers with strategies to decrease teacher burnout. Specifically, it sought to provide Tier I trauma-informed and restorative practice classroom management strategies through coaching cycles to reduce classroom disruptions and provide education on better managing challenging student behaviors. Based upon an intervention driven by weekly professional learning communities (PLC) sessions with the SEL coaching team and classroom-based coaching opportunities, this mixed-methods convergent design study utilized the improvement science framework. Quantitative data showed that although there were average decreases, there was no statistically significant difference in occupational exhaustion (EE) depersonalization (DP). Similarly, although there …

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: Examining The Use Of Professional Learning To Build Capacity For Teachers To Use Practices That Support Sel, Carlos Lawrence

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of professional learning on the effectiveness of integrating Second Step®, an evidenced-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program that focuses on school climate by promoting bullying prevention and social-emotional skills. Teacher efficacy and classroom culture at a prekindergarten through fifth-grade Interdistrict magnet school in the Northeastern Region of the United States was also explored. Improvement Science, a theory developed by the Carnegie Foundation that focuses on a user and problem-centered approach to improving learning outcomes and teaching, guided this study. Defined outcome measures, including study participants’ completion of surveys, participation in professional learning, classroom …

Case Studies Of Outdoor Education, Casey Lauren Simons

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This study analyzed the benefits and drawbacks of outdoor education on elementary-aged children. The educational environment a child experiences is critical to their experience for their entire academic careers. Outdoor education has been in existence since the 1940s. Six academic institutions that provide outdoor education within their curriculum opted to be a part of this study. Outdoor education school administrators were interviewed and asked a series of questions regarding the implementation of outdoor education within their institution. The interviews detailed how the programs were started and how outdoor education impacted students and their future educational experiences. Since this is a …

Fact Book, Academic Year 2023, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Fact Book

The Fact Book presents important campus information in data tables and charts. Included are details regarding students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Generally, data are broken out by college, rank, level, gender, age and ethnicity for both spring and fall semesters, past to present. There are a few academic year tables that include information on tuition & fees, student credit hours by program, and degrees conferred. We wish to thank the many individuals and departments at the University for their contributions to the Fact Book.

Personalized Support Systems Across Varying Higher Educational Settings: Recommendations For Personalized Educator Support, Herb Thompson Iii, Sandra Rodriguez-Arroyo, Connie Schaffer, Cory Rohlfsen

Teacher Education Faculty Publications

This mixed methods case study examines the experiences of mentors and mentees in a personalized mentorship support program (PMSP) at a midwestern public higher education (MPHE) institution as the program transitioned from a pilot phase dedicated to historically underrepresented educators (HUE) into year two, which sought to position the program as a viable system of institution-wide faculty support and retention. Results from year 1 and 2 of the program indicate a closing gap between faculty mentors and mentees for the outcomes of career success, intention to stay, and job satisfaction. This study provides recommendations for program strategy at varying higher …

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Bundle For Hypertension Outcomes In Adult Patients Receiving Care In Public Health Clinics, Christine Jennifer Victorian

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: Hypertension (HTN) that is not adequately controlled leads to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart disease. It affects 116 million adults (47%) in the United States (U.S.). The HTN compliance rate in a South Texas public health clinic was 64%, below the national benchmark of 76%. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) was recommended in a joint statement by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA). Literature evidence revealed that the HBPM bundle increased BP control (< 140/90 mmHg) compliance.

Methods: A quality improvement (QI) bundle was initiated to address the low HTN compliance rate from a quality management perspective. …

Intravenous Contrast Extravasations Of Ct Contrast Media Prevention Bundle, Shakerra T. Brown

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Contrast extravasations pose significant risks during intravenous contrast media imaging procedures, with potential adverse outcomes ranging from minor skin irritation to severe tissue necrosis. Despite technological advancements and procedural safeguards, contrast extravasations remain a concern in healthcare settings. A comprehensive needs assessment at our institution revealed a notable incidence of contrast extravasations, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to mitigate risk and enhance patient safety. This project aims to explore the complexities of contrast extravasations, examining contributing factors, associated complications, and current prevention and management strategies to inform evidence-based practices and improve patient outcomes. This Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) …

Implementation Of Prognosticator Algorithm For Initiation Of Serious Illness Discussions And Improving The Rate Of Palliative And Hospice Referrals, Joy Isebor

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Context: Early serious illness conversations related to end-of-life and goals of care with seriously ill patients have been associated with improving patients' outcomes and quality of care (Bernacki et al., 2015). However, initiating these serious illness discussions has been challenging in the home-based primary care setting.

Objectives: To train and support home-based primary care clinicians in integrating best practices in serious illness discussions and decision-making engagement among patients sixty-five and older with serious illnesses, optimize the alignment between patient goals and the medical care they receive, improving their quality of life and the rate of palliative care and hospice referrals. …

Student Performance In Modern Physics In An Active, Partially-Flipped Classroom, Scott Yarbrough

Physics Dissertations - Archive

The effectiveness of the flipped classroom and hybrid-flipped (partially flipped, partially lecture-based) method of instruction has been extensively studied for high school and introductory undergraduate physics courses, and it has been shown to increase student understanding and performance. However, few studies have been done for upper-level undergraduate courses, and even fewer have been done for virtual courses. In Spring 2021 and Fall 2023, a fully virtual, hybrid-flipped Modern Physics course was taught, primarily to a class of primarily juniors and seniors, with some sophomores. All were STEM majors. The same course, with a similar enrolment and demographic of students, was …

A Change Of Character? Exploring The Possible Effects Of Non-Tenure Track Faculty At Liberal Arts Colleges, Robert Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Research on liberal arts colleges (LACs) has yet to consider possible effects of using Non-Tenure Track Faculty (NTTF) on the character of LACs. LACs are characterized by their strong academic ethos, collegial faculty-student relationships, all at a sanctuary-like setting. Tenure Track Faculty (TTF) and administrators at three LACs were interviewed in a case study format at an urban, suburban, and rural LAC to consider whether NTTF are affecting the character of such institutions. NTTF, especially when full-time faculty, support the academic ethos, foster strong student faculty relationships, and help maintain the sanctuary like setting. NTTF use by change agents is …

Working To Learn And Learning To Work: A Comparative Exploration Of Federal Work-Study Program Implementation Across Kentucky Colleges And Universities, Alexandria Wasson

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program aims to connect low-income college students with paid campus employment and career opportunities. Institutions also benefit, as they are supplied with a federally subsidized workforce to staff essential entry-level jobs. However, this well-intentioned financial aid program is affected by a lack of uniform guidance at a national level. Hard working financial aid professionals, in tandem with other college and university administrators, are empowered to make FWS decisions that afford some students opportunities for advancement and constrain other students from reaching their potential.

The purpose of this study is to learn about the design and implementation …

A Multiple-Case Study On The Impact Of An Introductory Real Analysis Course On Undergraduate Students' Understanding Of Function Continuity, Ryan Joseph Rogers

Theses and Dissertations--Mathematics

Undergraduate students' understanding of function continuity has not been explored broadly in previous research. The relevant findings in the literature are predominantly concerned with calculus students' understanding and misconceptions of continuity. Many of these misunderstandings are tied to the relationships which continuity has with limits and differentiability. This multiple-case study explores how, if at all, an introductory real analysis course impacts undergraduate students' understanding of function continuity and its connections to the notions of limits and differentiability. We embed our findings within the theoretical framework of Tall's three worlds of mathematics, namely, the embodied, symbolic, and formal worlds.

The cases …

The Critical Need For Early Language Access For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children, Kinya D. Embry-Wright

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are referred to as the experts of communication (ASHA, n.d.) utilizing their specialized training, extensive education, and clinical expertise to work with individuals across the lifespan with a variety of different speech and language delays, disorders, and deficits. However, when working with deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) children, there is often precedent given to speech and listening (M. L. Hall et al., 2019). For example, ASHA only recently updated their DHH portal to include American Sign Language (ASL), though they still list it on some webpages as an Augmentative …

Links Between Perceived Mother-Adolescent And Father-Adolescent Conflict And Low Self-Control: A Cross-National Comparative Study, Tory Thomas

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The influence of parent-adolescent relationships and adolescent adjustment have been well-documented. Self-control has emerged as a key probabilistic construct in understanding adjustment, well-being, and life success. The present study tests the links between adolescent perceptions of maternal and paternal conflict and self-control. In addition, to understand the extent to which cultural developmental context impacts these associations, the study will employ a cross-cultural comparative lens to test whether cultural context moderates these links. Self-report data were collected from N = 4,924 adolescents (Mage = 16.97 years, 54.08% female) across four countries (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United States). In by …

Manrrs Advisors And Their Perceptions Of Their Mentor Strategies, Dallas L. Cooks

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences, also known as MANRRS, is an organization with chapters nationwide. Their main focus is to provide professional development, academic advancement, and networking to those in agriculture and related sciences. This research focuses on the advisors of MANRRS chapters across the country and at various institutions. Advisors were asked a series of questions through a Qualtrics survey about their mentor strategies with their students. Chapter Advisors were asked demographic, Likert Scale, and questions based on their personal MANRRS experience. As a result of the data, five research questions were answered. Chapter Advisors and …

Autism In Agricultural Education: A Case Study Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Parent On Career And Technical Education, Grace Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a unique and often misunderstood diagnosis. Little is known about the experiences of adolescents with ASD. As students with ASD graduate high school, many are under- and unemployed. Career and technical education (CTE) in U.S. schools is intended to prepare all students for careers post-secondary. Agricultural education is one of the predominate career clusters within CTE. This qualitative single case study sought to create a platform for both a student and their parent to share their experiences in agricultural education and CTE. Participants were an adolescent with ASD who had taken at least one year …

Exploring The Impact Of An Appalachian Higher Education Institution Had On Fostering Solidarity, Capacity, And Agency Of Female Appalachian Students Seeking To Positively Influence The Quality Of Life For Themselves And Appalachian Communities, Analiese Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Appalachian women navigating higher education encounter multifaceted challenges, often confronting marginalization and a lack of representation within academic spaces. This study investigates the experiences of female Appalachian students at Mountain University in Kentucky, aiming to shed light on their journey and the university's impact on their lives and communities. Drawing on qualitative data from interviews, the research explores themes of solidarity, capacity, agency, and Quality of Life. Findings reveal a robust sense of solidarity among Appalachian peers and faculty, fostering a supportive environment conducive to personal and academic growth. Participants express opportunities to engage with their communities positively, contributing to …

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2024 - 2025, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Analyzing The Perceived Increase In Anxiety Amongst Students At The Dalles Middle School, Ryan Ladouceur

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study is to gain a greater understanding of the root causes of the perceived increase of anxiety amongst middle school students at The Dalles Middle School (TDMS). Students, along with their parents/guardians, are reporting increased anxiety that is preventing them from attending school, completing homework, taking tests, being around peers, and much more. It is imperative to gain a deeper understanding of what is creating higher levels of anxiety amongst adolescents which would allow public schools to implement data-driven interventions at multiple different levels that will begin to hopefully mitigate these high levels of …

Career Counselors Addressing Social Determinants Of Mental Health In Rural Communities, Kaprea F. Johnson, Alexandra Gant-Howrey, Bisola E. Duyile, Lauren B. Robins, Natese Dockery

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Career counselors practicing in rural communities must understand and address social determinants of mental health (SDOMH). This conceptual article details the relationships between SDOMH domains and employment and provides evidence-based recommendations for integrating SDOMH into practice through a rural community health and well-being framework. Description of the adaptation of the framework for career counselors in rural communities, SDOMH assessment strategies and tools, and workflow adjustments are included. Conclusions suggest next steps for practice and research.

Self-Efficacy Of Undergraduate Human Services Students With Integrated Behavioral Health, Kristy Carlisle, Nic Schmoyer, Danielle Rodgers, Katherina Nako, Richie Kubilus, Zubede Akpakir

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

Human services professionals (HSPs) are poised to contribute to interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) settings as care enhancers. Interprofessional Education (IPE) effective for training HSPs requires changes or addition to curriculum. The purpose of the current study was to present workshops adjunct to curriculum to HSPs targeting their engagement in IBH settings. The study explored their self-efficacy with IPC after such training using a pre- and post-test design. Results indicated a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy from before and after the workshop. Discussion includes implications for human services educators in using workshops to augment the IPE their …

A Comparison Between The Flexural Strength Of Milled, Conventional, And Carbon Fiber Pmma For Interim Implant-Supported Fixed Complete Dentures: An In Vitro Study, Jenny Abou Nader, Paul Boulos, Jihad Fakhouri, Nancy Chemaly, Carol Abi Ghosn

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objectives: to investigate the flexural strength of three materials commonly used for interim implant-supported fixed complete dentures (ISFCDs): conventional heat cure PMMA, CAD/CAM milled PMMA, and carbon fiber-reinforced PMMA.

Methods: Sixty specimens (n=60) divided equally into three groups (heat cure, milled, carbon fiber) were prepared. Samples were inspected to ensure absence of voids or irregularities and when required, minor adjustments were made to adjust the dimensions. The samples underwent thermocycling (5-55°C for 2500 cycles) and were then tested using a three-point bend test.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between heat cure PMMA and carbon fiber …

Unlocking Untapped Potential: How Machine Learning Can Bridge The Gifted Identification Gap (2024), Al Mansor Helal

Three-Minute Thesis Research Posters

Unlocking Untapped Potential: How Machine Learning Can Bridge the Gifted Identification Gap

The 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) is a research communication competition that challenges students to communicate the significance of their projects without the use of props or industry jargon in just three minutes. The winner of the 3MT competition moves on to the Council of Southern Graduate School’s Regional Conference in March 2025.

Greta Thunberg (2021) By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Maughn Rollins Gregory

Picture Books

Greta Thunberg learned about climate change in school at the age of eight, when she persuaded her parents to make lifestyle changes to reduce their carbon footprint. At fifteen, after winning a writing competition about the environment, she came up with the idea of a school strike, inspired by student walkouts in the United States to protest legislative inaction on gun control. Though she couldn’t interest anyone else in the idea, her one-child strikes soon gained international attention. Greta’s story demonstrates some of the challenges and gifts that neurodiverse children bring to activism. This book also prods adults to think …

A Discrepancy In Discrepancy Scores? Comparing The Borich And Ranked Discrepancy Models For Determining Professional Development Needs, Donald M. Johnson, Will Doss, Chris Estepp, Henry O. Akwah, George W. Wardlow

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Borich (1980) model has been widely used to determine professional development (PD) needs of school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers over the past 40-plus years. However, recent criticism, primarily focused on a purported statistical issue, has led to development of the Ranked Discrepancy Model [RDM (Narine & Harder, 2021)] as a potential alternative. This article provides perspective on the statistical issue in question and compares the results of using the Borich model and the RDM to assess precision agriculture (PA) PD needs of Arkansas SBAE teachers (N = 44). Our quantitative results indicated the two models produced different PD …

Rapid Expansion Of The Limpkin Aramus Guarauna Across Anglo-America, A. Alam, R. Kaddoura, J. Jackson, R. Kannan

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We quantitatively document and describe the recent rapid expansion of the Limpkin Aramus guarauna across Anglo-America (United States and Canada). Using data downloaded from eBird (www.eBird.org), we present graphs showing the explosive growth in reports of number of individual birds and frequencies in checklists for this species in several parts of Anglo- America outside Florida (its traditional Anglo- American range). We also provide geographic progression maps to illustrate the expansion through time (2013-2023) and furnish qualitative information on foods consumed by the bird in new areas, based on a survey of 274 images uploaded by citizen scientists in eBird. Possible …

Geographical Variation In Songs Of Bachman’S Sparrow (Peucaea Aestivalis), L. Nguyen, K. Doñas, J. Jackson, R. Kannan

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We present an analysis of geographic variation in primary song components of the Near Threatened North American endemic, Bachman’s Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis). These songs have 2 distinct portions: an introductory tweet we call the "whistle" and a more complex second portion that we call the "trill". We analyzed 327 songs from 111 recordings downloaded from eBird.org from the entire current range of the species. We grouped the recordings into 3 distinct geographic clusters, East, Central, and West. The data measured from spectrograms suggest a significant statistical difference among groups for 3 measured characteristics: frequency range of trill, number of horizontal …