Education Commons^™

Dismantling Education’S “Wicked” Problems, Amanda M. Castillo

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The following papers, presented as a three-paper series format, discuss the implications of targeting three key, foundational problems within K-12 education. Designing solutions for policy or systemic problems requires more than just creativity. Since public education faces a myriad of crises, it falls under the term “wicked problem” first coined by Horst W.J. Rittel and Melvin M. Webber, to identify challenges that not only seem immune to conventional solutions but are often exacerbated by standard techniques. These papers are in no order of importance, nor are they issues educators might consider highest priority. The presented papers, however, provide suggestions for …

A Struggle So Beautiful: The Roses That Rise From Concrete: Exploring Transformative Ruptures In The Higher Education Journeys Of Formerly Incarcerated Latinx/A/O Students Through Relationships With Institutional Agents, Joe Louis Hernandez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Formerly incarcerated Latinx/a/o students (FILS) are an under researched student population who are often ignored when Latinx/a/o issues are brought up. This study seeks to highlight the experiences of FILS in the higher education pipeline and their experiences in engaging in relationship with institutional agents. Using a critical qualitative race methodology, the research presents the findings from thirty-five one-on-one interviews with twenty student participants and fifteen institutional agents identified by the students as having an impact on their educational journeys. This study employed the Concrete Rose Framework to highlight the experiences of the FILS as they engaged in relationship with …

Disruption, Dissent, And Dialogue: Ypar As A Pedagogical And Institutional Tool, Charlene E. Holkenbrink-Monk

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Education reform has been at the forefront of educational research for decades, depicted by government initiatives and policy, research, and pedagogical changes and recommendations. When considering elements of educational change, policy, best practices, and individual merit and retention have also been heavily in the spotlight, such as A Nation at Risk, No Child Left Behind , and other policies that have been put forward. What is often left out is student voice, both within policy as well as ideas around what should be changed. Based on my pilot study, I found that students also did not feel adequately represented in …

Humanizing English Language Arts Content Using A Social-Emotional Learning Approach, Marisol Thayre

CGU Theses & Dissertations

In light of an increased focus on the importance of soft skills to academic achievement and success later in life, educators are looking towards social-emotional learning (SEL) as a means for addressing the diverse needs of students. This qualitative study was aimed at understanding how secondary English Language Arts (ELA) teachers use literary texts in their classrooms to enhance social-emotional learning, specifically, their training, text selection processes, and methods for articulating and assessing ELA and SEL outcomes. A multiple-case study design featuring semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and content analysis of curricular materials was used to develop a robust understanding of …

A Jotería Identity And Belonging: Pláticas Of Co-Creation With Queer And Trans Latinx Graduate Students In Higher Education, Sergio A. Gonzalez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Homophobia, patriarchy, and white supremacy are deeply embedded in academia and our communities; consequently, there is a lack of empirical research that speaks to the collective experiences connected to Jotería, queer people of color, and Latinx graduate students (Tijerina Revilla & Santillana, 2014). Additionally, research has found that too often, queer and trans (QT) Latinx and other queer communities of color are pushed aside to the margins of academia and society (Tijerina Revilla & Santillana, 2014). Furthermore, silenced, queer and trans, Latinx student experiences, both inside of the classroom, and within the larger college community, lead to a lack of …

Implementation Of Local Control Accountability Plans In A Geographically Diverse Sample Of K-12 California Public School Districts: The Impact On The Classroom And Parent Input In The Process, Rita Mongoven Miller

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The Local Control Funding Formula, executed in part through the Local Control and Accountability Plans, allows California school districts to allocate funds based on their needs as identified through goals and action items. This research project sheds light on the extent to which the funds have been utilized in the classroom and at the school sites. Surveys were sent to teachers in six California school districts. The districts varied in size, demographics, and location. The research examined the steps the districts took to include parents in the process of developing the Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) and whether parents’ input …

Ecodrama And Sustainable Theatre: A Handbook For Creating Remarkable Change, Gigi Buddie

Pomona Senior Theses

The climate crisis is not new to us, nor are the art forms that have taken shape as vital components of the many activist movements that seek to save the planet. Yet, for the first time at Pomona College, a play about environmental devastation and our hand in it finally graced the stage of this progressive institution this past year. This mini handbook is a call-to-action (of sorts), one that stems from the idea that this should not be the last ecodrama performed at Pomona College. These chapters are structured and supported by both experience and research – formulated from …

The Transformative Potential Of Mid-Term Grades & Feedback For Student Success, Danielle Maxham, Tatjana Titareva, Paul E. Mabrey Iii, Kenn Barron, Sam Prins

Student Success Analytics

Midterm grades and feedback have the potential to positively impact equitable student success and retention. What if instead of treating midterm grades as one-way opportunities for summative feedback, midterm grades were framed as opportunities for two-way formative feedback. At James Madison University, this Spring 2023 research project piloted an alternative midterm grade and feedback system with 10 faculty across three colleges. The intervention included a mandatory part A that included transparent communication about the role of midterm grades in the specific class at the semester’s start and an optional part B which had the student submit their perceived midterm grade …

Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra, Florentin Smarandache, Ranulfo Paiva Barbosa (Sobrinho)

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

We introduce Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra, an algebraic structure consisting of neutrosophic numbers equipped with two binary operations namely addition and multiplication. The addition can be calculated sometimes with the function min and other times with the max function. The multiplication operation is the usual sum between numbers. Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra is an extension of both Tropical Algebra (also known as Min-Plus, or Min-Algebra) and Max-Plus Algebra (also known as Max-algebra). Tropical and Max-Plus algebras are algebraic structures included in semirings and their operations can be used in matrices and vectors. Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra is included in Neutrosophic …

Information Literacy, Media Literacy, And The Attitudinal Positioning Of Wpas Combatting Mis/Disinformation, Joshua Nieubuurt

English Faculty Publications

Informational flow is paramount to the success of interpersonal communication as well as macro communication that allows for people to engage with the overarching sociopolitical apparatuses as a citizen. Chief among hindering informational flow are the obstacles of mis/disinformation. This research project is an exploratory study into the attitudinal positioning of a wide range of WPAs across R1 research institutions. Results found that WPA's perceptions are positively aligned in agreement with the value of IL and ML. Furthermore, WPAs are utilizing IL and ML within their programs both knowingly and serendipitously. Despite the positive attitudes toward interdisciplinary approaches to combating …

Historically Black Colleges And Universities Are Vital And Valuable To The United States, James V. Koch, Omari H. Swinton

Economics Faculty Publications

Though Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are little recognized, both in the United States and internationally, rigorous empirical analysis reveals that given their circumstances, they typically perform at a high level. This is the first comprehensive empirical analysis that has examined the performance of HBCUs.

Preservice Secondary Science Teachers' Reflections In Using Modeling & Simulation Applications As Instructional Tools For Learning, Mary C. Enderson, Elizabeth Langran (Ed.), Paula Christensen (Ed.), Jarrod Sanson (Ed.)

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Preparing preservice teachers to construct learning environments integrating technological tools is a challenge that higher education continues to tackle. One way to address this challenge is to have preservice teachers integrate modeling & simulation (M&S) tools while teaching, reflect on the experience, and attempt to identify ways to make improvements in instructional practices. This case study of five preservice secondary science teachers, enrolled in a course along with student teaching, was designed to study M&S tools integrated into instruction and how preservice teachers thought about the experience. Participants taught at least one lesson integrating M&S tools where they were to …

Gendered Leadership: Men And Women Governor’S Responses To Covid-19, Kate Gaulke

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

To alleviate a large-scale crisis, leaders have to choose mitigation strategies to best address the issue at hand while also avoiding the spread of panic among their constituents. This balancing act can be challenging and was especially demanding during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic was not only a global health crisis, but also caused worldwide social, economic, and political turmoil. For three years, the pandemic riddled the United States with disease, economic hardship, food insecurity, and unemployment. Since its rise, COVID-19 has been the foremost concern on policy agendas nationwide. Governors, in particular, played a significant part in leading …

Utilizing Markov Chains To Estimate Allele Progression Through Generations, Ronit Gandhi

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

All populations display patterns in allele frequencies over time. Some alleles cease to exist, while some grow to become the norm. These frequencies can shift or stay constant based on the conditions the population lives in. If in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the allele frequencies stay constant. Most populations, however, have bias from environmental factors, sexual preferences, other organisms, etc. We propose a stochastic Markov chain model to study allele progression across generations. In such a model, the allele frequencies in the next generation depend only on the frequencies in the current one.

We use this model to track a recessive allele …

Strolling The Lingnan Garden, 2020-2022 = 涓流彩園錄, 第二卷 : 上冊, Lingnan Gardeners, Centre For Cultural Research And Development, Lingnan University

Lingnan Gardeners Publications 嶺南彩園刊物

No abstract provided.

Who Cares About Virtual Campus Tours? Virtual Tours In The College Choice Model And Perceived Student-Institution Fit, Christopher Thompson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

College recruitment practices have remained stagnant for quite some time. However, due to decreases in state funding and hypercompetitive applicant pools colleges must adapt their recruitment practices to remain competitive. Due to precautions and social distancing guidelines which occurred in 2020 caused by the coronavirus pandemic, college information sessions, college fairs, campus tours and other recruitment events were suspended. As such, admissions administrators were forced to rely on virtual recruitment practices, including virtual campus tours, to recruit applicants. Virtual campus tours allow colleges to expand their applicant pool by engaging with prospective students, who may not possess the required finances …

Reading Utopian Pedagogies: Discovering The Practical Here And Now Of Utopian Thinking, Carter Johnke

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis offers a way of reading texts for their utopian aims, a term I use to analyze utopian themes and ideas in a text while keeping the focus on practicality. Reading a text for its utopian aims discovers what a text hopes for but always reflects on how those hopes serve the here and now of the author and the reader. The idealistic conclusions of utopian thinking, the utopian visions, only play a role in the utopian aim. This project does not promote the ultimate or extreme ends of utopian visions; instead, it analyzes the educational effects of entertaining …

Video Game Therapy For Adhd Managment, Wilhelm Alec Sison Beroncal

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) stands out as the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, leading to functional challenges in various aspects of the daily lives of affected young individuals (Bul et al., 2016).

There is no current cure for ADHD, however effective treatments are available through medications. The FDA has authorized two types of medications for managing ADHD in children as young as 6 years old: stimulants, such as methylphenidate and amphetamine (e.g. Adderall), and non-stimulant options including Strattera, Intuniv, Kapvay, and Qelbree (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023).

The choice of treatment is highly individualized to meet the specific …

Insider Tips For Applying To Graduate Programs, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

As I approach my 20th year as a school psychology faculty member (12 as a program coordinator), I have reviewed thousands of applications and interviewed hundreds of prospective students. It is truly a joy to meet people at interviews who will go on to excel as school psychologists. I also have met my fair share of applicants who were clearly unprepared. This piece provides some insider information on how prospective students can strengthen their applications and interviews.

Crisis Leadership: Voices From The Field, Corinne Brion

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Perspectives On Care Coordination For Youth With Tbi: Moving Forward To Provide Better Care, Jennifer P. Lundine, Erika Hagen, Susan C. Davies

Counselor Education and Human Services Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Care coordination aligns services and optimizes outcomes for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI), yet numerous obstacles can impede effective care coordination following a TBI.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work is to identify barriers and facilitators to care coordination from the perspective of individuals who care for young people impacted by TBI.

METHODS: Twenty-one care providers participated in semi-structured interviews to gather their perspectives on systems of care coordination for youth with TBI and potential areas for improvement. Using reflexive thematic analysis, researchers identified key themes across interviews.

RESULTS: Three themes were identified: 1) gaps in knowledge; 2) …

An Equal Wage For All: Investigating The Gender Wage Gap In Opticianry, Christine E. Pinkney

Honors Undergraduate Theses

To better understand the gender wage gap and how it affects licensed working opticians in Florida, an attitudinal survey was constructed using a Likert scale and an online survey instrument through Qualtrics. A pilot study was used with student opticians to investigate the clarity of the questions. This research aimed to learn about Florida opticians' current attitudes toward the gender wage gap in their field and to investigate if this knowledge had somehow affected their decision to stay in the opticianry field. The data from the pilot study indicates that while opticians are aware of the gender wage gap, they …

The Significance Of Art Education: Creating A Digital Classroom Advocating Art Education, Keri K. O'Connell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Art programs have always been essential to education; they have provided students with a safe place to express themselves and make risk-free choices. However, due to budget cuts to the public school systems, art education is in jeopardy. The impact of the budget cuts on art education is widespread and has reduced student access to the arts and lowered the quality of the art education programs within our public school system. Schools can only provide students with the necessary resources, such as art supplies, technology, and professional development for art educators, with adequate funding. When schools are not receiving adequate …

Exploring Bibliotherapy And Creating Family Literacy Bags In Response To Community Violence, Sierra Urbaez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis sought to aid children in coping with community violence. As violent crimes terrorize communities near and far, children are hearing about them. Children might learn about this violence on the news or by overhearing adults' discussions. Regardless, this thesis sought to help students navigate a world that may be anxiety filled. This thesis includes an exploration of bibliotherapy and discussions of the use of books in a therapeutic manner to delve deeper into its profound effects. The topics of this thesis surround social-emotional learning, which is also investigated and explained. The benefits of combining bibliotherapy and social-emotional learning …

Volunteering At An Elementary School, Kaila R. Sobol

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2023

For this service learning project, I chose to volunteer at Timbercrest Elementary School, my community partner, in Deltona, Florida. Before selecting my service project, I did research regarding parts of my community that needed volunteers to help out. I discovered an article by SF Ed Fund named "5 Reasons to Volunteer in a School" which focused on how "underfunded and understaffed" public schools are. I volunteered approximately eight hours a week at Timbercrest, moving between different classrooms and helping out multiple teachers. While volunteering there, I administered and graded tests, inputed grades, worked with students in small groups, and lead …

Preparing College Students With Adhd For Online Job Interviews: Self-Regulation & Psychophysiology, Tahnee L. Wilder

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation investigates the complex dynamics of digital communication, highlights the unique stressors it places on college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and advocates for adopting interdisciplinary methods to enhance their participation in online communication environments. While online interviewing has become increasingly common in the employment domain, it poses unique difficulties for individuals with ADHD, who may struggle with self-regulation and communication skills. Due to the absence of physical presence, online interviews pose a significant challenge to individuals in perceiving and responding to the nuanced range of non-verbal cues, which can greatly impact the effectiveness of their communication. To advance …

Feed-Forward: Strengthening Assessment Of Pre-Primary And Primary Science And Mathematics Education In Tanzania, Nipael Mrutu, Esther Kibga

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Classroom assessment is a critical part of teaching and learning and is a potentially useful tool for enhancing learning outcomes. It provides information on where learners are with their learning goals and what they need to do to improve their understanding and meet the intended learning outcomes. In response to the agent's need for proper interpretation of classroom assessment, researchers and policymakers have developed guidelines, principles, and models to help teachers understand and implement effective assessment conceptions. Despite these initiatives, research continues to show that teachers struggle to interpret assessment policies and implement practices aligned with contemporary formative assessment notions. …

Leadership Efficacy: A Study Of The Relationship Between Leadership Efficacy, Teacher Perception And Teacher Retention, Rachel Hazel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Leadership self-efficacy is an important quality for school principals. In his work, Hattie has stated, "How we think about the impact of what we do is more important than focusing on what we do (Hattie, 2020)." Leadership efficacy, theories of action, and how leaders ensure their actions are aligned with their goals is more important than ever as educators face challenges with teacher shortages and leading in a tumultuous time. Teacher recruitment and retention is a worldwide problem. Teachers are leaving the field. While teachers do not have to validate the beliefs of their leaders, they must carry out the …

The Impact Of Competency Based Education On Educational Equity, Ndifor Manjong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

For centuries, minority groups, students from low socio-economic background, and girls in public schools especially K-12 educational institutions in the United States have experienced prejudice, injustice, and bigotry. Unfortunately, the conventional approach of education, based on a one-size-fits-all approach, has failed to deal with these obstacles. In the past decades, however, there has been an increasing demand for the adoption of the Competency-Based system of education, a personalized learning approach that focuses on the acquisition of concrete skills rather than abstract knowledge. In a Competency-Based model, students advance based on the demonstration of mastery of knowledge and skills other than …

An Examination Of A Decade Of K-5 Mathematics Standards In The United States, Ashley Schmidt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This qualitative content analysis research study examined changes made to K-5 state mathematics standards across the United States from 2012 to 2022. This study aimed to answer the research question: In what ways, if any, do K-5 state mathematics standards differ from the CCSSM? This was accomplished through four additional sub questions which include: (1) In what ways, if any, do K-5 state mathematics student process and practice standards differ from the CCSSM? (2) In what ways, if any, do K-5 state mathematics standards content domains differ from the CCSSM? (3) In what ways, if any, do states describe how …