Education Commons^™

Causes And Best Practices To Minimize Disciplinary Referrals For Minor Behavioral Issues In General Education Classrooms With Special Education Populations, Beth Moran

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An increasing number of setting one and setting two special education students with disruptive behaviors are being integrated into general education classrooms in the elementary grades. When these students are referred to formal disciplinary processes by general education teachers for minor behavioral issues, they lose classroom time. Collecting data to identify the causes of minor behavioral issues can inform decisions about the distribution of special education students in general education classrooms and the selection of appropriate classroom management strategies by grade level. Identifying and selecting best practices to minimize behavioral issues within settings one and two for special education students …

Social Protection To Foster Inclusive, Resilient Early Childhood Education In Kenya, Uganda, And Tanzania, Nyagwegwe Wango

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

In order to evaluate the efficacy of systems approaches in enhancing early childhood education (ECE), this study summarizes outcomes from the SESEA and F4L programs in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The study investigates how context-responsive ECE, social-emotional learning (SEL), and social protection (SP) interventions contribute to improvements in teaching practices, inclusion, and learner outcomes using mixed-methods data, including teacher surveys, classroom observations, and policy analysis. The findings show significant improvements in inclusive classroom practices, gender-sensitive pedagogy, and teacher confidence, especially when reflective peer learning and continuous mentoring are incorporated. Children’s academic performance and well-being have been linked to the integration …

Faithful To The Finish: Investigating Executive Training And Leadership Tenure In Christian Schools, Elisa J. Carlson

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study examined leadership tenure among heads of Christian schools, where many serve five years or less. Frequent turnover can disrupt stability, weaken relationships, and limit a school’s ability to sustain its mission over time. Although leadership preparation has expanded within Christian education, limited empirical research has examined how organizational, personal, and program-related factors relate to leadership tenure.

Guided by the push–pull–equilibrium model of career mobility and the leadership competency framework, this study used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Survey data from alumni of an executive leadership program for Christian school heads were analyzed to examine relationships between leadership tenure …

From Vision To Practice: Developing A Field-Informed Framework For Music Education In Catholic Schools, Melita Mudri-Zubacz

Doctor of Education (EdD)

This study aimed to develop a sustainable and mission-focused framework for music  education in Catholic elementary schools, in order to bridge the gap between the theological ideals of Catholic education and the lack of operational models for its implementation. The problem had significant implications for school leaders, music teachers, and students, as it restricted the potential of the school’s music programs to support the development of Catholic identity and liturgical participation.

The purpose of this study was to develop a field-informed and consensus-driven framework based on Catholic identity, sustainability, and expertise. The conceptual framework for this study integrated theological and …

Navigating Racist Spaces Through Radical Self-Care: A Photovoice Exploration Of The Experiences Of Black Graduate Students, Laetitia Adelson, Cherese Fine, Dion Harry, Keneisha Harrington, Rebecca Lynn Morgan Ph.D., Tomiko Smalls, Jerad Green, Courtney Allen, Anuoluwapo Bankole, Robin Phelps-Ward

Faculty Publications

This manuscript examines the impact of racist campus climates for Black graduate students at a predominantly white institution. Using a photovoice methodological design, this study illuminates students’ ability to thrive through radical self-care despite the many racist factors, incidents, and systems at the institution. The paper ends with recommendations for improving campus racial climate in graduate education.

Artificial Intelligence Research In K–12 Education: A Bibliometric Analysis, Thomas Frank Mauro

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Research on artificial intelligence (AI) in K–12 education has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, producing a growing and sometimes fragmented body of scholarly literature. As new AI applications, including machine learning systems, intelligent tutoring systems, and generative AI tools, continue to emerge, understanding how this research has evolved over time is increasingly important for educators, policymakers, and researchers. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of scholarly publications on AI in K–12 education to address the following three research questions. How has research on artificial intelligence in K–12 education evolved over time? Who are the significant contributors to AI …

Erased From The Permanent Record: Data Collection Practices And Non-Binary Student Experiences In School, Ashley Carey, Peter Piazza

Education Faculty Publications

State education data systems often undercount non-binary students, constraining schools’ ability to support them. This study examines the scope and implications of non-binary erasure in school data collection. Drawing on survey responses from nearly 13,000students across seven Massachusetts districts, we find that current practices substantially undercount non-binary students, who also report less positive experiences of school culture, including student–teacher relationships, belonging, and emotional safety. Although inclusive data could guide efforts to create more supportive environments, districts face growing political resistance from parent organizations aligned with the White Christian Nationalist movement. These groups frame inclusivity as a threat to parental rights. …

Plant Phenomena Nature Walk: Msum Regional Science Center, Abigail Kor

OER Materials

The goal of this inquiry-based lesson plan is to provide teachers and students with a place-based learning experience focused on exploring natural phenomena in the world around them. The lesson was established to provide learners with an experience to observe nature in Minnesota, by exploring the grounds at the MSUM regional science center. This lesson can be adapted to suit other outdoor learning environments. The primary goal of this lesson is to provide students with a cross-curricular, hands-on learning experience that takes place in their community and environment.

The Global Onboard Training Programme (Gobt) : A Comprehensive Review, World Maritime University

Reports

A stable supply of qualified seafarers is a critical component of the global maritime logistics industry, which relies heavily on maritime transportation. According to the 2021 BIMCO Manpower Report, an additional 89,510 officers will be needed by 2026. In 2021 alone, there was already a deficit of 26,240 STCW-certified officers, clearly indicating that demand continues to outpace supply. The report also noted a 45.8% increase in the number of female seafarers since 2015, although they still represent only a small share of the overall workforce. Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions around the world continue to provide training to develop …

Student Retention In Music Programs: An Analysis Of Relationships Between Selected Student Demographics And Continued Enrollment In Music Programs With The Presence Of School-Provided Supports, Jessica Wiese

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Music education provides significant cognitive, social, and academic benefits; however, elective music programs often face substantial annual attrition. While existing literature has documented material barriers (e.g., instrument costs, transportation, scheduling conflicts), this study investigates the persistence of attrition within a medium-sized suburban district on Long Island that has systematically mitigated these obstacles. The district provides free instruments, flexible scheduling, and dedicated transportation for all students. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine whether demographic disparities in music enrollment remain predictive of withdrawal in such a post-barrier environment.

The research used a two-phase explanatory sequential design. In the first …

Reaching The Finish Line: Teacher Perceptions Of Intervention Strategies To Reduce Dropouts And Improve Student Engagement In Rural Schools, Carter J. Baran

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine educator perceptions of intervention strategies designed to reduce student dropout rates and improve student engagement in rural school settings. Rural schools often face unique challenges, including limited resources, geographic isolation, and socioeconomic factors that may contribute to student disengagement and increased dropout risk. This study sought to identify strategies educators perceive as effective in supporting at-risk students and promoting persistence toward graduation. Data were collected through 18 semi-structured interviews with educators in a rural school district, including six core content teachers, six elective teachers, and six administrators. Following the interviews, a …

Perceptions Of Intracurricular And Extracurricular Activities On Student Academics In An Eastern North Carolina High School: A Qualitative Study, Demarcus Jones

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative study explored educator perceptions of the impact of intracurricular and extracurricular activities on student academic achievement in a rural high school in Eastern North Carolina. Grounded in Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory and Maslow’s (1962) Hierarchy of Needs, the study examined how structured school-based programs influence student motivation, engagement, and academic performance. Data were collected through three rounds of semi-structured interviews with purposive groups of core teachers, elective teachers/sponsors, and school administrators, followed by a culminating focus group to confirm emerging themes. Inductive thematic analysis revealed that participation in structured programs positively influenced academic outcomes by promoting accountability, …

Overcoming The Literacy Gap In K-5 Students From A District Perspective: A Qualitative Study, Sarah G. Boles

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how district leaders respond to literacy gaps among kindergarten through fifth-grade students in a small, rural school district in Northwestern North Carolina. While previous research has focused specifically on classroom practices, less is known about the role of district leadership in shaping system-level approaches to literacy improvement. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants, which included nine elementary lead classroom teachers and nine elementary school leaders (five principals, two assistant principals, and two instructional coaches). The culminating focus group included six teachers, three principals, …

The Impact And Sustainability Of A School Improvement Grant On Student Outcomes In An Elementary Setting, Tiesha Denise Reed

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact and sustainability of the School Improvement Grant (SIG) Transformation Model and to determine its impact on a low-performing elementary school. The research study used a quantitative research design to investigate the effects of the SIG on student achievement and school annual reporting data across three time periods: pre-intervention (2014-2015), post-intervention (2016-2017), and six years after the grant ended (2022-2023). The research design was appropriate because it allowed the researcher to collect archival data and examine potential differences across time periods. The independent variable was the three time periods, and the …

Competitive Dance And The Adolescent’S Body: Considering Pedagogical Approaches To Teaching Competitive Dancers, Catri E. G. Barba

Dance (MFA) Theses

Diving into the past and researching for the future, this thesis explores the development and perpetuation of hyper-sexualized adolescent bodies through the competitive dance scene. Drawing on dance theorists, educational theorists, and embodied research (i.e., the author’s body archive), this thesis explores how the competition gaze is performed for and by a capitalist patriarchy. Specifically, this thesis critically reflects on the author’s career as a young competitive dancer in the greater Los Angeles, California, area during the 1990s and 2000s, as well as a competition dance instructor and K-12 educator for two decades, and how those personal experiences have shaped …

The Role Of Automatic Speech Recognition Live Captions In Synchronous In-Person Learning Environments: A Study On Accuracy Rate, Krista M. Rey

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy rate of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) live captions in an in-person synchronous classroom setting and the perceptions of participants experiencing them. The reduction in the workforce of Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioners, improvements in ASR, and previous studies suggesting benefits for all learners have left educators, institutions, and policymakers wondering if ASR live captions can ethically meet accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and also benefit typically hearing and English Language Learners (ELL). Two general undergraduate education classes were selected to evaluate the accuracy rate of …

How Oregon School District Staffing Allocation Proportions Relate To Student Achievement As Measured By Essa-Aligned Key Indicators On The Oregon School Report Cards, David M. Wallace

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Grounded in the Educational Production Function framework and Oregon’s ESSA-aligned accountability system, this study examined the relationship between district-level staffing allocation proportions and student achievement outcomes. Within the constrained, zero-sum context of school district budgeting, the study examined whether the proportional distribution of personnel expenditures among certified, classified, and administrative staff was associated with differences in third grade English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, eighth grade mathematics proficiency, attendance, and on-time graduation. Using an unbalanced panel of 519 district-year observations from Oregon public school districts (2021–2024), multiple regression models controlled for student poverty, disability status, and English learner enrollment. The findings …

The Intersection Of Bias And Practice: Understanding How Adult Beliefs And Ppt Expertise Affect Self-Contained Placement Recommendations In Special Education, Amy M. Martino

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) examined high rates of segregation for students receiving special education services in an urban district in central Connecticut. A root cause analysis, supported by a review of existing literature, guided the need for intervention given the widening gap between academic achievement and post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to their peers at the secondary level. Using an improvement science framework within a convergent mixed-methods design, this study investigated the implementation of a six-week professional learning intervention for high school administrators. The professional learning focused on the facilitation of Planning and …

Creating An Effective Video Case-Based Teaching Tool To Enhance Undergraduate Clinical Skills, Tyler Kam

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Occupational Therapy Education In Cancer Rehabilitation​, Elizabeth A. Dorn

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

This doctoral capstone project aimed to enhance entry-level occupational therapy (OT) education by developing and evaluating evidence-based instructional materials addressing musculoskeletal and oncology rehabilitation within a doctorate curriculum. Designed as an oncology-focused experience, the project involved a two-phase approach: (1) testing educational techniques by implementation and evaluation of an elbow pathology lecture and lab, and (2) development of an asynchronous oncology rehabilitation unit informed by outcomes from the initial phase. The project was guided by the ASSURE instructional design model and emphasized active, visual, and case-based learning strategies to support clinical reasoning.

Student outcomes were assessed using pre- and post-lecture …

Notes For The Stalled, V18n05, January/February 2026, University Of Northern Iowa. Rod Library.

Rod Library newsletter: Notes for the Stalled

Contents:

--- Research Award
--- Howdy Partners!
--- Career Readiness
--- Blind Date with a Book
--- Upcoming Events

01. Elfie, Second Edition (Novel - Ebook), Matthew Lipman

Early Elementary School Curriculum

Elfie is in the first grade and is so shy she can’t speak in class and can hardly even formulate a question. Yet little escapes her and her mind puzzles over everything that happens in class and at home. When the principal proposes a contest aimed at improving reasoning, her whole class is caught up in figuring out how sentences work and how distinctions and connections are made. At the same time, Elfie and her classmates discover many distinctions fundamental to inquiry: appearance and reality, the one and the many, parts and wholes, similarity and difference, permanence and change.

02. Elfie, Second Edition (Novel .Pdf Printable), Matthew Lipman

Early Elementary School Curriculum

Elfie is in the first grade and is so shy she can’t speak in class and can hardly even formulate a question. Yet little escapes her and her mind puzzles over everything that happens in class and at home. When the principal proposes a contest aimed at improving reasoning, her whole class is caught up in figuring out how sentences work and how distinctions and connections are made. At the same time, Elfie and her classmates discover many distinctions fundamental to inquiry: appearance and reality, the one and the many, parts and wholes, similarity and difference, permanence and change.

Development And Validation Of A Music Teacher Candidate Assessment, Phillip Hash

Faculty Publications - Music

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate the Music Teacher Candidate Assessment (MTCA), a rubric-based tool for evaluating student teachers in music classrooms. Factor analyses of scores issued by university supervisors (USs), cooperating teachers (CTs), and student teachers (STs) supported construct validity, explained 53.5% of the variance, and revealed two subscales: Pedagogy (I) and Professionalism (II). Concurrent validity resulted from a strong correlation (r_s = .83) between evaluators’ rubric averages and holistic ratings of performance. Inter-factor correlation (r = .65) confirmed discriminant validity. All groups exceeded the α ≥ .80 threshold for acceptable internal …

Session C: Co-Creating With Ai: Augmenting, Enhancing, And Elevating Instructional Design, Michael Mcvey, Angela Elkordy, Ian Natzmer

Learning Together at the Forefront of Change: GenAI Summit 2026

Instructional Designers are using Generative AI to support their work, and the panelists will share a new model for organizing how to think about AI's role in Instructional Design. In addition, we will share insights from the local founder of Odeum, a software application that allows designers to collaborate with AI to develop rich, immersive educational environments.

Session D: How We Are Approaching Ai: Results From A Survey Of Emu Faculty And Staff, Jeffrey L. Bernstein

Learning Together at the Forefront of Change: GenAI Summit 2026

Supporting faculty in acclimating to a Gen AI-affected teaching environment requires that we have data about where our faculty and staff are–their comfort level with Gen AI, how much they are using it in research and teaching, and what excites and worries them in this new landscape. Join us for a Deep Dive into survey data, collected multiple times over the last three years at Eastern Michigan University, to understand what faculty and staff are thinking, and to ponder together what our next steps may be in supporting this work.

Session E: Ai: Your Data Thought Partner, Kai M. Smith

Learning Together at the Forefront of Change: GenAI Summit 2026

Ready to step up your data game? Join me on a data-driven learning journey to discover how Artificial Intelligence and educational data analysis can work together. Learn how AI becomes your “Your Data Thought Partner,” sparking new ideas, and easing traditional data analysis for teachers, leaders and students.

From Student To Teacher: Reflections On My Personal Growth, Francesca I. Taormina

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This presentation reflects on professional growth during the undergraduate teacher preparation program and clinical teaching experiences in an elementary education classroom. It highlights instructional practices developed through coursework and field experiences, including lesson planning, formative assessment, and responsiveness to diverse learners. The presentation also identifies goals for continued professional growth as an educator and reflects on the role of clinical practice in preparing future teachers.

From Pilot To Dissertation Proposal: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of The Professional Role And Boundary Spanning Experiences Of Va School Certifying Officials, Daina Hunter

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The effective support of military-connected students is a vital priority for higher education institutions, and the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) serves as a foundational support role essential to military-connected students’ use of Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits and institutional compliance (Hunter, 2026a; Semer & Harmening, 2015). SCOs’ perception of their professional role and their experiences navigating the complex spaces between regulatory agencies, their own higher education institution, and their students are the focus of this inquiry. This presentation highlights the evolution of a study from a two-participant pilot to a larger dissertation proposal using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). …

Language Acquisition And Emergent Literacy In The 21st Century, Albert H. White Jr.

Open Touro Created

2026

Grounded in contemporary scholarship and pedagogical research, this work employs an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to 21st-century literacy instruction while prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through its multimodal, universally accessible design—featuring interactive components, multimedia elements, and curated links to the New York State Department of Education Standards and Instruction Website—the resource facilitates critical engagement with content and alignment with state-mandated learning standards. Supplementary materials for pre-service teacher preparation and professional development are embedded throughout, enabling educators to customize and repurpose content for their specific contexts. Developed in partnership with Touro University and Colleges, this OER supports the continuous professional development …