Education Commons^™

Embracing Mindfulness-Based Professional Development In Early Childhood Education, Drew Giles

Dissertations

There is a growing need for school districts to identify additional strategies to support the work-related stress and emotional labor ingrained in an early educator’s career. By orienting early childhood education (ECE) staff to mindfulness practices, education leaders may identify new approaches to assist early childhood educators’ well-being, building healthy work atmospheres, and activities to shift the culture in early childhood settings. This study employs a qualitative exploratory research design, specifically video documentary methodology to better understand how early childhood educators experience a mindfulness-based professional development (MBPD) program designed for ECE staff, explore what they say education leaders should know …

Increasing Initial Cfi Capacity Within Collegiate Flight Programs, Andrew Leonard, Cody Christensen

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

According to the Government Accountability Office (2018), collegiate aviation schools face two primary challenges: flight instructor retention and the high cost of pilot training. In a study of collegiate aviation programs, 16 of the 18 schools reported difficulty in recruiting and retaining certified flight instructors (CFI), leading to the inability to accept all students who applied to the programs. Furthermore, these programs attributed the high instructor turnover to the increased demand for commercial pilots at the airlines, a challenge that is not expected to decrease in the near future (Boeing, 2023). While the lack of flight instructor retention impacts flight …

Success Of Achieving Student Learning Objectives: Compressed Vs. Traditional Courses, Irene Miller, Timm Bliss

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Institutions of higher learning are offering varying course modalities to accommodate the changing needs of students. Notably, institutions of higher learning are offering an increasing number of compressed courses to meet student demand and remain competitive in higher education. The increase in the number of compressed classes presents the challenge of ensuring that similar academic rigor and breadth of knowledge are maintained in comparison to the traditional 16-week semester. The purpose of this research study was to determine if students enrolled in off-campus classes with compressed schedules are receiving a similar quality of instruction and achieving the equivalent student learning …

Reclaiming Black Spirit: Redefining Social Justice Leadership With And For Black Youth In Jesuit Secondary Schools, Jeremy Divinity

LMU Theses and Dissertations

There were contradictions from the beginning regarding Jesuit education’s mission of faith, which does justice and supports African American male students. Limited research examined the experiences of African American males attending Jesuit secondary schools and their perceived support from Jesuit school leadership in ensuring they had increased feelings of belonging, inclusion, and culture through social justice efforts. In order to address this gap, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study centers on the lived experiences of African American male alumni in Jesuit secondary schools regarding social justice leadership and how they make meaning of their racialized and gendered experiences while attending a …

Implementation Of Formative Feedback Practices Via An Instructional Walkthrough Observation Tool: The Impact On Pre-Service Teacher Knowledge And Skills, Sheila Mulder

Dissertations and Theses

The collection of studies explores the role of feedback in the development of pre-service teachers’ knowledge and skills, focusing on the perspectives of university supervisors and cooperating teachers. The first study used a comparative case study examining pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the feedback they received and their ideal feedback across two universities. This revealed insights into effective feedback practices, informing teacher educator’s feedback practices, underscoring recommended feedback structures within teacher preparation programs. Moreover, there is a need for training in formative feedback practices to create a common understanding of the desired teaching practices, formative feedback practices to support collaborative feedback …

Mental Health In College Students: Efficacy Of A Telehealth-Delivered Occupational Therapy Program, Amy Marie Nelson

Dissertations and Theses

The number of college students in the United States struggling with mental health issues has increased tremendously over the past decade. Specifically, undergraduate students report stress and anxiety as significant inhibitors to academic performance. Colleges are investing resources to combat this problem, but increased counseling services are insufficient. Novel approaches beyond traditional college counseling services are recommended. Occupational therapy, not traditionally offered on most college campuses, may be one solution. A few occupational therapy programs exist on college campuses, but there is limited evidence of their efficacy, and most lack solid theoretical underpinnings. More evidence is needed on the effectiveness …

Weatherford: Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Undergraduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Graduate Catalog 2024-2025, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Perceptions About Catholic High School Athletics, Kevin J. Calkins

Journal of Catholic Education

In the largest survey to date on Catholic school identity in athletics (49 U.S. States, n = 2273), administrators, counselors, and teachers responded to a survey about the perceived value of interscholastic athletics, school support of athletics, the contribution of coaches to school mission, Catholic identity in athletics, and the importance of the school’s athletic director and coaches to have a mission orientation. The results of the study indicate that administrators, counselors, and teachers have positive perceptions of Catholic high school athletics. Teacher perceptions differed more than administrators and counselors based on their age, gender, and religion. At least one …

Faith And Stem Education: A Path To Mutual Elevation In Catholic Schools, Michael Szopiak, Matthew Kloser

Journal of Catholic Education

Amidst increasing religious disaffiliation, often due to a perceived tension between faith and the STEM disciplines, Catholic schools provide critical opportunities for young people to recognize how these domains can be mutually elevating. The field, however, lacks guidance as to how this integration should occur in practice. This conceptual paper first provides an overarching framework for how aspects of the Catholic tradition, like Scripture and the Catholic social tradition, can shape traditional educational domains of STEM teaching and learning. Secondly, we provide a heuristic of three criteria for deeply engaging students at the interface of the Catholic faith and the …

Increasing Parent Faith Engagement At A Parish School, Grace Mazza Urbanski

Journal of Catholic Education

Increasing faith engagement among Catholic school shareholders is a priority for school leaders. Catholic school communities can learn from this year-long project with a parish school. Sacred Heart Parish School serves approximately 300 K3-8th grade students. Like many parish schools, Sacred Heart sees a growing number of parents disengaged with the faith life of the parish and school, despite 98% of them being registered parishioners. The parent population enjoys robust and regular social activities, but report they are uncomfortable or uninterested in faith activities. The mission of Sacred Heart Parish School is to nurture “children’s growth in the Catholic faith,” …

Paschal Space Of Healing And Community: An Affinity Group For Catholic School Teachers Of Color, John L. Beltramo, Lisa Archuleta

Journal of Catholic Education

As Catholic schools seek to recruit and retain more ethnoracially diverse faculties, we examine one site of potential support for Catholic school teachers of color – a racial affinity group. Using critical research methodology with qualitative data collection, we studied five teachers of color who engaged in weekly affinity group meetings, which were structured as Freirian culture circles and ran over a period of five months. Using a Catholic, critical framework on teacher education, we analyzed the data (culture circle recordings, written reflections, baseline and comparative interviews, along with classroom observations and debriefs) to examine how teachers’ participation impacted their …

Teacher Faith Formation As Response To An “Existential Crisis” In Catholic Schools: Western Canadian Superintendents’ Perspectives, Matt Hoven, Dean Sarnecki, Eugenia Pagotta-Kowalczyk

Journal of Catholic Education

The shortage of teachers who can strongly identify with the religious mission of Catholic schools is at the point of an “existential crisis,” according to a system leader in Catholic schools in Western Canada. Drawing upon exploratory interviews completed with ten chief superintendents (who oversee large school districts), this paper reveals that while school districts offer various forms of faith formation regulating the personal lives of teachers amidst divergences between Church doctrines and social trends is complicated. Because the complexity of teacher faith formation is incredibly difficult to address, we discuss three key areas to renew the state of affairs: …

Augustinian Composition Pedagogy And The Catholic Liberal Arts In The Time Of Generative Ai, Gavin F. Hurley

Journal of Catholic Education

This article proposes a theoretical basis of Augustinian composition pedagogy by tracing the symbiotic relationship between writing and knowing found within St. Augustine’s Letters, The Trinity, Soliloquies, and Confessions and connecting them to modern writing-to-learn composition pedagogies. Given today’s trying times of generative AI, this article argues that Catholic schools revitalize the writing arts in a manner proposed by Augustine—that is, to enrich inward contemplation and outward love for others. In embracing such philosophy of writing and applying it across the disciplines, Catholic schools can enrich their distinctively Catholic liberal arts mission—and ward off dangers found in …

The Sound Of Silence: The Significance Of Nurturing Spirituality, Self-Transformation, And Academic Excellence In Augustinian Schools, William R. Driscoll

Journal of Catholic Education

This article examines silent reflection within the context of Augustinian Catholic schools. Tracing the rich lineage of Augustinian spirituality, it explores how cultivating interiority serves as a transformative practice that fosters spiritual growth, nourishes a deeper understanding of self and others, and compliments academic inquiry. Through a synthesis of theological, educational, and psychological perspectives, this article illuminates the multifaceted benefits of integrating silent reflection into the educational ethos of Catholic schools. Emic descriptions from students, teachers, and leaders provided insights into silent reflection programming designed to enrich the holistic development of students.

Perceptions Towards Integrating A Gender Perspective Into Education: A Study Of Muslim Preservice Teachers In The Philippines, Veronico N. Tarrayo, Ma. Annie Susaya, Delma A. Yuarata

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

: To date, studies exploring Muslim preservice teachers’ views on gender matters in education remain scant. We conducted a qualitative-quantitative survey with 45 Filipino Muslim preservice teachers, ten of whom participated in follow-up email interviews, to explore their perceptions towards integrating a gender perspective into education. The results indicate the participants’ progressive views on fluid gender norms, although they also share conflicting perspectives on gender roles that tend to reinforce gender stereotypes. The preservice teachers also report positive perceptions concerning their institutions’ commitment to gender sensitivity and gender mainstreaming in teacher-education curricula. However, they seem to have unrealistic views on …

Music And Perceived Stress: An Investigation Into The Effects Of Music On Chemistry Students' Perceived Stress Levels, Alice Young, Eric Malina

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Music has long been a prevalent intervention when trying to lower stress in certain populations (Thoma et al., 2013). This study aimed to explore the possible usefulness of music as an intervention for students experiencing stress in the chemistry laboratory setting. Students in general chemistry laboratories were surveyed regarding their stress at the ends of periods in which music was or was not played in their laboratory classes. While the results were not statistically significant, mean stress scores did lower in those groups where music was played. Further research into this topic should focus on type of music, the effects …

Loan Debt Burden, Student Experiences, And Livelihood: A Study Examining Relationships Between Students’ Education Costs, Financial Viability, And Life Impact, Christa A. Reid

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the complex connections among loan debt burden, student experiences, and post-bachelor’s outcomes, situated within the framework of systemic disparities in educational funding and opportunities. It identifies declines in state funding across educational levels as a systemic and politicized issue, disproportionately affecting students in underserved and underresourced school districts. The study emphasizes the impact of systemic racism and policymaking in perpetuating poverty through higher education, emphasizing the need for equitable policy establishment. Economic downturns and reduced higher education funding necessitate the exploration of alternative revenue streams, such as endowed funds and fundraising efforts, to prevent increased tuition costs …

School Leaders Creating An Inclusive School Culture For Students With Exceptionalities, Dawn Spears

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Studies indicate that principals who create an inclusive culture and champion students with exceptionalities work towards success for all students. When students with exceptionalities spend time in the general education setting, they experience academic, social, and emotional growth. This study contributes to research on inclusive school leadership for students with exceptionalities to enhance capacity for inclusion and provide strategies around initiatives that foster inclusive school cultures. The research used a sequential mixed method multiple case study. Emotional intelligence, leadership styles, and leadership practices were examined for elementary school principals in urban and rural schools. The Emotional and Social Competency Inventory …

Return On Investment: Identifying K-12 Funding Inequities To Improve Postsecondary Achievement And Affordability For Marginalized Students, Austin Woodside

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The research investigates persistent inequities in K-12 school funding in Michigan, emphasizingthe correlation between funding disparities and the socioeconomic status of communities. The study highlights how historically segregated communities of color face significant challenges in securing equitable funding compared to predominantly White communities, perpetuating racial inequalities in educational resources. The study explores the impact of funding on key factors affecting student achievement, such as teacher quality, class size, and socio-emotional support, while analyzing the role of parental education attainment in perpetuating intergenerational inequality. Using structural equation modeling, the findings reveal that socioeconomic status significantly influences educational outcomes and per pupil …

The Impact Of Performance Based Funding On Institutional Financial Priorities In Public Two-Year And Four-Year Institutions, Ebony T. Spearman

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines the impact of performance-based funding (PBF) policies on institutional financial priorities at 2-and 4-year colleges and universities. PBF is a policy mechanism used by states to incentivize higher education institutions to achieve specific performance outcomes, such as increased graduation and retention rates, by tying a portion of institutional funding to these outcomes. This research aims to determine the efficacy of PBF policies on institutional change and outcomes. More specifically, this research seeks to find the extent to which colleges and universities subjected to PBF policies change their financial priorities and how, if at all, these changes impact …

Trigger Events And Leadership: Crucible Moments In Leadership, Timothy M. Authier

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Being and becoming an educational leader is a process that engages multiple levels of challenge, training, processing, and understanding. The many demands placed on school administrators create many challenges and put a great deal of adversity in the pathway of administrators. The training process involving graduate degrees in educational leadership attempts to support aspiring principals and district leaders by applying technical skills and practices. However, the challenges and adversity that arise in education consistently cause other factors, of which administrators may have some awareness but need more official training and teaching on navigating. Thus, topics frequently discussed, such as emotional …

The Cost Of Doing Homework: Online Homework Systems With Access Codes From A Social Justice Perspective, Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Alison E. Kelly

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

The use of online homework systems that require the purchase of an access code has become widespread. The purpose of this study is to examine student experiences with and perceptions of online homework systems with access codes. Postsecondary students (N = 966) completed a survey about the financial costs, perceptions of quality, engagement with, and learning with online homework systems. Most students (79.5%) indicated that they had been required to purchase an access code for an online homework system. Of those who had been required to purchase an access code, 29.4% reported their grade was hurt because they could …

School Culture: Identifying The Barriers To Belonging At Boarding Schools And Shifting The Culture, Kyle Connolly

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

School Culture: Identifying the Barriers to Belonging at Boarding Schools and Shifting the Culture is a theoretical application of sociological concepts to boarding school social spaces. The social environment in schools is a venue where students are subjected to endless influences that play a major role in shaping their social realities. Though much debate in education focuses on the curriculum in public school settings, there is far less attention given to small boarding school communities and even less attention on the culture of belonging, or the obstacles to belonging that exist within it. As American society grows more diverse, economically …

A Political Theory Of Engineered Systems And A Study Of Engineering And Justice Workshops, Dominic David Carrese

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Since there are good reasons to think that some engineered systems are socially undesirable—for example, internal combustion engines that cause climate change, algorithms that are racist, and nuclear weapons that can destroy all life—there is a well-established literature that attempts to identify best practices for designing and regulating engineered systems in order to prevent harm and promote justice. Most of this literature, especially the design theory and engineering justice literature meant to help guide engineers, focuses on environmental, physical, social, and mental harms such as ecosystem and bodily poisoning, racial and gender discrimination, and urban alienation. However, the literature that …

Electrostatic Sorting Of Lunar Regolith Simulants For Sustainable Resource Utilization: Modeling And Characterization Of Particle Size Distribution, Abdullah Al Moinee, Peter Bachle, Kyle Newport, William Schonberg, David Bayless, Jeffrey Smith, Daoru Han, Fateme Rezaei

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In pursuit of sustainable resource utilization on the Moon, this paper delves into modeling and characterization of particle size distribution (PSD) of lunar regolith simulants in an electrostatic system. a prototype electrostatic sieve was built and tested with four sample simulants mirroring properties of lunar mare and highland regolith. an alternating four-phase (90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, 360 degrees) traveling square-wave was utilized for particle-directed transport to model the diverse trajectories of the particles. Numerically, we scrutinized how the distribution functions of the particles are manifested as the electrostatic field propagates, with a focus on three distinct particle ranges …

‘The Playful Entrepreneur’ Fostering Entrepreneurial Education In Early Childhood Education, Trudie Murray

Theses

This study explores the integration of entrepreneurial education within early childhood settings in Ireland, focusing on embedding entrepreneurial capabilities at the foundational stages of education. Recognising the critical role that early experiences play in lifelong learning, this research advocates for equipping preschool children with essential 21st-century skills, such as independence, creativity and problem-solving. Despite significant investment in early childhood education, the integration of entrepreneurial education remains limited within existing pedagogical frameworks, which prioritise social, emotional, and cognitive skills without explicitly addressing entrepreneurial capabilities. Utilising a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, the study examines how early childhood educators can foster an entrepreneurial …

Exploring Perceptions Of Advanced Coursework Enrollment Practices: A Multiple Case Study, Tomika Ferguson, David B. Naff, Jenna Lenhardt, Amy E. Jefferson, Isaiah Moore, Andrea Herndon, Richard Ashburn, Jessica Harris, Jenna Conlee, Courtney Forstmann

MERC Publications

This report from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium highlights findings from a multiple case study exploring enrollment practices related to advanced coursework matriculation in a suburban middle school and rural high school. In connection with the MERC Equitable Access and Support for Advanced Coursework study, this multiple case study included perspectives from students, parents, and educators as they reflected on the factors that support and inhibit access for advanced courses in their schools.

Create Genai Illustrative Stories For Multicultural Teaching, Ting Yuan

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Impact Of A Design Thinking Educational Activity On Graduate Students’ Knowledge, Confidence, And Perceived Benefits, Janice Hawkins, John Baaki, Beth Tembley, Robert J. Hawkins

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Design Thinking is gaining recognition as an innovative and creative approach to problem solving. Though nurse leaders need problem solving tools to address health care challenges, Design Thinking concepts are not commonly taught in nursing education. To introduce graduate level nursing students to Design Thinking, we held an educational activity focused on this content as part of required coursework.

Purpose: The purpose was to describe and compare outcomes of a Design Thinking educational activity on students’ perceived knowledge, confidence, and benefits to nursing practice.

Methods: Graduate level nursing students participated in a 3-hour educational activity. After the session, …