Education Commons^™

Filipino High School Teachers’ Use Of Technology To Teach Science Online, Bongbong Lalata Fernandez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Importance Of Diverse Characters In Children's Literature For Identity Development, Gabrielle Revaitis

English and Creative Writing Independent Study Projects

This paper aims to explore and examine the function of diverse and realistic representation in children's literature and its effect on their identity development. It asserts that literature is one of the main tools by which children develop their understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Reading about various kinds of diversity and realistic representation of different kinds of identities, whether based on race, gender, and disability, helps them to see diversity and commonality in human experiences. However, this paper will also examine how children's literature has been problematic in representing stereotypes and misrepresenting marginalized groups. It emphasizes …

Understanding Diversity Through "All Are Welcome" Lesson Plan, Gabrielle Revaitis

English and Creative Writing Independent Study Projects

This lesson plan for 2^nd grade students uses the book All Are Welcome to explore themes of diversity. It lists needed materials and includes learning objectives, lesson procedure and discussion prompts.

Virtualizing Practical Science Education: A Sociological Analysis Of Undergraduate Teaching And Learning, Sina J. Fakoyede, Femi E. Babalola, Oluwatoyin T. Obateru, Oluwayemisi D. Akomolafe, Deborah O. Alabi, Stella K. Ekundayo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the perspectives of university teachers and students on integrating practical science teaching with virtual learning in a multicultural and diverse society, specifically within the context of southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving data collection from 100 university lecturers and 400 undergraduate students across 10 universities. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with students. Quantitative data were obtained via structured questionnaires, allowing for triangulation and comprehensive analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that certain lecturers showed preferential support influenced by students’ cultural backgrounds or academic behavior during …

They Don’T Care About Us Here! The Intersectionality Of Implicit Bias, Stereotype Threat, And The Need For Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, Louis D. Blair

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how teachers engage in critical self-reflection of implicit bias and how that process influences their pedagogical awareness and classroom practices. Grounded in the Implicit Bias Theory, Adult Learning Theory, Transformative Learning Theory, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, the study utilized the Harvard Implicit Association Test (IAT), reflective journaling, and engagement with the book Despite the Best Intentions: How Racial Inequality Thrives in Good Schools, to explore shifts in three participants’ beliefs and instructional approaches. Data sources included pre- and post-survey responses, IAT reflections, and ongoing journal entries, and semi-structured post-study interviews which were analyzed thematically. Findings …

Accesstem: How Small Colleges Can Open Stem Pathways For Local High School Students, Dina D. Isakov

Program in Community Action (PICA)

This paper reflects my experience developing ACCESStem as part of the Program in Community Action (PICA) center at Connecticut College. ACCESStem is a community-engaged research project designed to create hands-on, lab-based STEM workshops for local high school students in New London. ACCESStem was built on the premise that even small liberal arts colleges can hold a meaningful impact on helping diversify the science workforce. Over the course of three years, this project took shape through my relationships with STEM faculty on campus and relationships with staff at the Holleran Center for Community Action. This paper works to begin contextualizing the …

The Gatekeepers: School Personnel And The Identification Of Twice-Exceptional Black Girls, Stephanie L. Addison-Fontaine

LMU Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study examined the discourse of school personnel in the twice-exceptional (2E; Kaufman, 2018) student identification process (Gilman & Peters, 2018). It used disability critical race studies (DisCrit; Annamma et al., 2016) to investigate how educators’ discourse signals the inclusion or exclusion of 2E Black girls. Critical discourse analysis (Gee, 2014) was used to understand the ways their intersectional identities of race, ability, and gender impact their identification in schools. It highlighted the identification barriers for 2E Black girls and conceptualized a normative 2E construct (N.A.T.E.) aligned with the dominant institutional discourse of twice-exceptionality. Policy shifts are recommended …

A Quantitative Critical Analysis Of Comprehensive Education Plan Effects As Implemented Under Title 5 In California Community Colleges, Nicole Jones

Dissertations

California Code of Regulations, Title 5, is the policy and regulatory guide of the California Community Colleges. Sections of Title 5 policy govern the implementation of programs and services at these colleges. It provides protection for colleges and specifies student entitlements under the law. The mission of the California Community Colleges is to serve as an open-access point, providing students with services and instruction. Access barriers to services like counseling can delay goal attainment, increase cost of attendance and time to completion, and result in lower successful retention or persistence rates. Additionally, resource allocation, Title 5 Section 59200 regulations (the …

Meeting The Moment With Ai-Employer Informed Education, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence transforms aviation, aerospace, and autonomy-related sectors, higher education must adapt to meet evolving workforce demands. This session shares emerging findings from a nationwide study led by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, focused on employer perceptions of AI adoption, responsible use, and workforce preparedness in domains including uncrewed systems, space systems, robotics, and advanced air mobility. Based on a structured survey and follow-up interviews, the presentation explores how organizations are using AI tools, from generative platforms to enterprise systems, and defining effective and inappropriate use in operational contexts. Participants will gain insight into critical concerns (e.g., data privacy, compliance, security, …

Exploring Safety Perceptions On Campus: A Look At Student Responses To Campus Crime And Institutional Effectiveness, Edgar J. Delatorre

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

There is limited research examining safety-related programs and perceptions of Deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) students, especially in respect to how receptive these students are to resources aimed to keep them safe while they are on campus and how these resources are perceived and to what extent they are utilized. Gallaudet University is the only university in the United States established for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with a bilingual campus where students and staff use both English and American Sign Language (ASL) – making it a unique focus of study compared to other universities that use primarily …

Not Retirement, But A Rewiring And Fresh Perspectives Post-Dbs, Says Piyush Gupta [Interview With Business Times], Su Shyan Lee, Piyush Gupta

Oral History Collection

In an interview with The Business Times, SMU Chairman Piyush Gupta discussed topics ranging from meditation and conservation to the future of education. On his role at SMU, he emphasised his desire to help shape tertiary education and noted that the rise of AI makes it critical to rethink how we learn. Mr Gupta believes that in an AI-driven world, students must move beyond domain knowledge to focus on interpreting information, "connecting the dots," and engaging others with genuine empathy. He is supportive of a more experiential curriculum at SMU — one that focuses on regional exposure through internships and …

A Dynamic Assessment Of Writing Apprehension In Elementary And Middle School Students Undergoing A Writing Intervention, Jennifer Lin Williams

Theses - ALL

Writing apprehension refers to fear or anxiety associated with writing tasks, avoidance of writing, and concern over evaluation of written works (Daly & Miller, 1975c). Although extensively studied in college-aged populations, where elevated apprehension is linked to reduced text production (Limpo, 2018) and diminished sentence complexity and quality (Faigley et al., 1981), research in elementary students remains limited. Existing studies have relied on adaptations of the Writing Apprehension Test (Daly & Miller, 1975c), originally validated for adults, and have typically employed cross-sectional designs, leaving the developmental trajectory of writing apprehension underexplored. To address these gaps, the present study examined changes …

Transformative Simulations: Bridging Theory And Practice Through Clinical Simulations, Jessica Fundalinski

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation study explores how teacher candidates (TC) respond to, reflect on, and make meaning of a clinical simulation that surfaces marginalizing language ideologies towards multilingualism and multilingual language users. This study is framed conceptually through language ideologies, Critical Multilingual Language Awareness (CMLA) (García, 2017; Prasad & Lory, 2020), and practice-based teacher education, emphasizing the role of reflective, justice-oriented practice in shaping future educators' critical consciousness. To explore how TCs navigated the simulation in real-time and how they reflected on their approaches and takeaways from the simulation, this study employed a four-phase analytical framework and coding process of video and …

Belonging, Identity, And Agency: A Qualitative Study Of Muslim Students In U.S. Higher Education, Amir Duric

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of Muslim students in U.S. higher education, focusing on how they navigate identity formation, search for belonging, and exercise agency within two predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in the Northeast. Drawing on 40 semi-structured interviews and four months of fieldwork, the study demonstrates how Muslim students navigate not only their religious identity and practices in secular contexts but also how the racialization of their Muslim identity is shaped by U.S. foreign policy and the Global War on Terror. Three central findings emerged from the data. First, Muslim students demonstrated sustained and deepening religious commitment through …

Breaking Ground: Educational Identity Formation Among First-Generation Students During The Transition To College, Carrie Sue Ingersoll-Wood

Dissertations - ALL

This mixed-methods research study examined the educational identity formation of first-generation college students during the transition into higher education through participation in a six-week summer bridge program. Drawing on Community Cultural Wealth and Self-Determination Theory, the study situated identity development at the intersection of institutional entrance, cultural capital, and motivation. Survey data from 135 participants were analyzed descriptively to examine patterns of identity signaling and motivational orientation. Qualitative interviews with a purposive subsample of participants were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory methods to examine meaning-making related to transition, autonomy, belonging, and academic self-concept. Autoethnographic excerpts and brief reflexive statements clarified …

Identity-Based Philanthropy In Higher Education: Investigating The Information Contexts Of Black Greek Letter Organization Collective Giving, Rachel Elizabeth Vassel

Dissertations - ALL

There is a need to increase philanthropic donations at Predominately White Institutions (PWIs) to remain competitive and meet increasing operational costs. Diverse and underrepresented alumni of these institutions are a growing constituency of potential donors who are not always cultivated through the traditional fundraising pipeline and efforts. To address the need to increase institutional donations, it is incumbent upon advancement operations in higher education to consider incorporating identity and culturally based strategies as part of their cultivation efforts. Building upon identity-based philanthropy theories, particularly Drezner’s Philanthropic Mirroring Framework, I extend prior work in this space by examining the information contexts …

Examining How Disability Resource Professionals In Higher Education Enact Whiteness In Maintaining Power And Privileged Structures, Paula Possenti-Perez

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation examines how Whiteness operates with the delivery of disability-related accommodations on US college campuses. The research in this study focused on three questions: (a) How do disability resource professionals individually begin to make sense of their Whiteness personally? (b) How do disability resource professionals recognize and account for their White racialized frame and Whiteness in their individual professional judgment and decision-making? (c) How do disability resource professionals describe the ways Whiteness as ideology manifests in the field of disability resources, through its professional norms and systemic practices across disability resources in higher education? Twelve White disability resource professionals, …

The Influence Of Prosthetic Obturators On Quality Of Life In Individuals With Maxillectomy Defects, Minseok Kim

Oral Health

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, there has been a growing focus on understanding the impact of oral cancer on patients' quality of life. Prosthetic rehabilitation techniques, such as maxillary obturators, often in conjunction with reconstructive surgery, have emerged as interventions to address the challenges posed by post-maxillectomy abnormalities.

Objective: This study aims to systematically review and evaluate the effectiveness of maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation using obturators in enhancing the quality of life of patients following maxillectomy.

Methodology: Systematic review of identified literature spanning the timeframe from 2000 to 2020 was used. The comprehensive search encompassed widely recognized databases including PubMed, …

Adapting Phonological Awareness To Support Emergent English Language Learners', Hannah L. Zywicki

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examines how phonological awareness instruction can be adapted to better support emergent English language learners (ELLs) in their early literacy development. As classrooms become more diverse, traditional instruction designed for monolingual English-speaking students may not fully address the needs of ELLs. This study explores research to understand how phonological awareness develops in ELLs and how instructional approaches can be better adapted to support their literacy development. This literature review is organized into three overarching themes with the use of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research studies. The first theme is developmental differences between ELLs and monolingual students. The …

Taking Control Of Middle School Behavior: A Structured Approach To Classroom Management In A 7th-Grade Honors English Classroom, Hanna D. Pritchard

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This research examined a classroom management structure used at the middle school level. It aimed to analyze the teacher’s and students’ perceptions on the protocol, and to evaluate the role of structure and the perceived impact on student behavior. The framework contained a series of strategies, such as noise level charts and positive reinforcement. Research took place in a RLA classroom, observing three seventh-grade honors class periods. The study occurred over four weeks, but the implementation began at the start of school. The research analyzed a survey given to students, a series of interviews with students and the teacher, and …

Spring Commencement, 2026, Marshall University

Marshall University Commencement

Program for the Commencement of Marshall University, Saturday, May 9, 2026 held at the Mountain Health Arena in Huntington, West Virginia.

Rural Appalachian Tennessee Secondary Public School Teachers' Perceptions Of Instructional Coaching, Timothy Darell Anderson

Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the perceptions of secondary public school teachers in rural Appalachia, Tennessee, regarding how instructional coaching influenced their self-efficacy based on Bandura’s (1997) theory of self-efficacy. I examined teachers’ lived experiences with instructional coaching within the unique context of rural Appalachia. I collected data through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with teachers across multiple rural districts in the rural Appalachian region of Tennessee. I followed Yin’s (2018) case study approach, employing coding and thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns. My findings revealed that instructional coaching strengthened teacher self-efficacy by fostering trust, …

The Role Of Teacher Education Programs In Shaping Tennessee Novice Secondary Social Studies Teachers’ Civic Education Ideologies, Clarence Dean Burress

Ed.D. Dissertations

Researchers documented how American students often received minimal exposure to democratic knowledge and practices necessary for meaningful civic participation, particularly justice-oriented civic learning. Teachers played a central role in shaping civic instruction, as their civic beliefs and ideologies, personally responsible, participatory, or justice-oriented, influenced how civic content was interpreted and enacted in classrooms. Prior research on civic education ideologies focused largely on preservice teachers or veteran educators. Accordingly, this interpretive qualitative study explored how teacher education programs influenced the civic education ideologies of novice secondary social studies teachers in Tennessee, as framed by the typologies of personally responsible, participatory, and …

Impact On Social-Emotional Development When Play-Based Learning Is Integrated Into Curriculum And Practice, Meghan Heller

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examines the impact on social-emotional development when play-based learning is integrated into curriculum and practice. Play-based learning is widely accepted as best practice in early childhood education. Social-emotional learning provides the foundation for student success, equipping them with lifelong skills. Scholarly, peer-reviewed articles were analyzed to interpret the correlation between play-based learning and social-emotional development. The studies selected were published between 2013 and 2026 and selected based on their relevance to the topic of how social-emotional development is affected by play-based learning strategies. The findings of these articles indicate a strong correlation between play-based learning and the development …

Identifying And Coping With Failure In Human Anatomy & Physiology I And Ii Students, Annie R. Mueller

Honors Theses

Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) is a two-semester course that focuses on the structure and function of the human body systems. For many students, A&P could be their first challenging undergraduate course and their first experience with academic difficulty. Students must learn to adapt their study habits and respond productively to academic failure. The purpose of this study was to examine how students in the A&P courses at the University of Mississippi perceive and cope with academic failure, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention method. Students enrolled in BISC 206 and BISC 207 participated in three …

2026 Spring - Commencement Program, Office Of The Registar, East Tennessee State University

ETSU Commencement Ceremonies and Programs

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Diverse Literature On Empathy, Paige Hosley

Graduate Teacher Education

This Capstone Paper examined the role of diverse literature in supporting the development of students’ empathy across educational contexts. While literature had traditionally been used to build reading skills, its function in fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) had become increasingly significant in diverse classrooms. A review of 15 quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies spanned primary through university settings across the world, including the United States, Kazakhstan, India, Canada, Israel, and Korea. These studies provided consistent findings across varied cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic populations, although some may have not been as reliable due to the complex nature of empathy. The research demonstrated …

Enhancing K-2 Teacher Effectiveness In Reading Instruction: An Improvement Inquiry Into The Roles Of Self-Efficacy, Growth Mindset, And Evidence-Based Practices, Kellie F. Dawson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

School districts across the United States have increasingly adopted structured literacy initiatives in response to growing concerns about early reading outcomes and policy mandates grounded in the science of reading. Despite substantial investments in professional development, less is known about how teachers experience implementation demands within authentic classroom contexts. This improvement study examined how evidence-based professional development influenced K–2 teachers’ self-efficacy, the barriers teachers encountered during structured literacy implementation, and the supports teachers perceived as most critical for sustained instructional change within Eagle Stone School District.

Grounded in Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and Dweck’s Mindset Theory, this qualitative study explored teachers’ …

Beyond Cough Drops And Band-Aids: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study Of Certified School Nurses’ Professional Scope And Enacted Roles In Pk–12 Settings, Brandy Gershon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative dissertation explored the underutilization of certified school nurses (CSNs) in PK–12 educational settings across urban, suburban, and rural school districts in western Pennsylvania. Despite their advanced preparation and wide-ranging scope of practice, school nurses are often limited to providing episodic care, including first aid, medication administration, and treatment of minor injuries. This limited use reflects a significant misalignment with their professional scope of practice, which encompasses chronic disease management, health education, mental health support, care coordination, and leadership in public health. Guided by role theory (Biddle, 1986), this study examined how school nurses perceived and interpreted their professional …

Technology In Waldorf Education: Benefits, Challenges, And The Teacher's Role, Jennifer C. Larson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historically considered a screen-free education, Waldorf pedagogy has gradually begun to integrate digital technology into the middle and upper grades over the last two decades. Research on the implications of extended screen time for children has driven this pedagogical decision alongside foundational commitments to relational practices, experiential learning, and imaginative artistry.

At the same time, recent years have marked an acceleration in digital expansion in education. COVID-19 normalized teaching and learning through remote learning platforms, and digital access is now an expected feature of daily life.  As Waldorf education seeks to offer holistic education in the context of this societal …