Education Commons^™

How Does Inclusive Education Affect Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Elementary Schools?, Kacie M. Coe

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children diagnosed with autism are at an all-time high of 1 in 31 children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2025). What does this mean for our schools and students with autism? Inclusive education is more renowned than ever. What is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted in 1975, and guarantees every child with a disability access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Inclusion, in theory, appears to be the right decision for all our students, but what are the schools doing to prepare for these exceptional …

The Impact Of Flight Instructor Feedback On Subsequent Instructor Evaluations Of Student Performance, Ayhan Rozyyev, Jennifer E. Thropp

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study examines the impact of feedback tone and feedback order on flight instructors’ evaluations of student performance in an aviation training context. Using a 2×2 mixed factorial design, 40 certified flight instructors reviewed fictitious training records and rated students based on feedback that varied in tone (positive vs. negative) and order (positive-first vs. negative-first). Results showed that positive feedback significantly influenced evaluations across all measured dimensions, while feedback order had no significant effect, challenging assumptions about primacy and recency effects. These findings highlight the role of positive reinforcement in shaping instructor evaluations and suggest that structured training environments can …

People And Movement: A Unit Of Study On The Great Migration, Maria Arteta-Martelo

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This unit of study for third graders on the Great Migration was developed to fill a gap in a year-long immigration curriculum by incorporating Black history and the often-overlooked experiences of internal migration.

Do Your Perceptions Of Minority Students Influence How You Teach Them? How Does A White Teacher's Racial Identity Affect Academic Outcomes Of Students Of Color?, Vivianease Major

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative research study examined the relationship between White teachers and students of color, focusing on how teachers' racial identity awareness influences their instructional practices and relationships. Using Helms's (1990) White Racial Identity Development Theory and principles of culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explored how teachers perceive their roles in advocating for the academic and relational needs of diverse students. Participants described their experiences with students of color, relationship-building strategies, and how their backgrounds and training affect their teaching practices. Semi-structured interviews and inductive thematic analysis were employed to analyze teacher perceptions and experiences. Findings revealed that participants made significant …

Beyond The Classroom: Exploring High School Graduates' Perceptions Of How Extracurricular Activities Influence College And Career Readiness, Miranda B. Grigg

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods study explored high school graduates’ perceptions of how participation in extracurricular activities influenced their college and career readiness. Grounded in Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory and Deci and Ryan’s (1985) Self-Determination Theory, the study examined how experiences in athletics, clubs, organizations, and leadership roles contributed to graduates’ development of confidence, motivation, leadership skills, belonging, and real-world competencies. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was employed. The quantitative phase consisted of a 20-item survey completed by 67 graduates of a rural South Carolina high school, with responses analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square goodness-of-fit tests. Reliability was further …

Educational Inclusion Commission Conformation As A Strategy For A Public Policy Proposal, Yessica Martinez Soto, Lilia Guadalupe Lopez Arriaga, Luis Enrique Palafox

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

No abstract provided.

Expanding The Boundaries Of Scholarship: Flight Instruction And Boyer’S Call For Application, Joseph Scarcella

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

No abstract provided.

Chicana/Latina Secondary Administrators: Triumphs, Obstacles, And Discernment ¡Sí Se Pudo!, Erika Tejeda, Angela Clark Louque

Journal of Critical Issues in Educational Practice

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

The Griot - Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc.

No abstract provided.

Editor's Pen, Ronald E. Goodwin

The Griot - Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc.

No abstract provided.

“The World Is Yours”: Blackplanet.Com And The Black Birth Of The Social Media Age, Malachi D. Crawford, W. Denae Muhammad Murphy, Bequita Pegram

The Griot - Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc.

This article examines the rise of BlackPlanet.com as a foundational force in the birth of the Social Media Age. Launched in 1999 by Omar Wasow, BlackPlanet quickly became the largest and most influential online social networking platform for African Americans, challenging assumptions about the so-called “digital divide.” Despite limited household internet access among Black communities, the site experienced extraordinary growth, reaching nearly 13 million users by 2004 (see user growth data in Table 1)

Crawford et al . Through customizable personal pages, forums, messaging, and community-building tools, BlackPlanet pioneered participatory digital culture before the rise of MySpace and Facebook. The …

Book Reviews, Mea Boykins, Kimberly F. Monroe, Denzel Oliver, Latif A. Tarik

The Griot - Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc.

No abstract provided.

Integrative Masters Project: Hold That Thought: An Original Picture Book, Jordana Blumberg

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Rooted in personal experience, this picture book follows a group of young children who each listen in their own unique way. The author drew from her own childhood memories of struggling to meet classroom expectations — particularly the challenge of holding back when she had something to say — to craft a story that validates the experiences of children who don't always fit the traditional mold of a "good listener."

Embedding Microsoft Certifications And Gmetrix Into Accounting Education: Enhancing Digital Skills, Student Engagement, And Graduate Employability, Alison Mulhare

Case studies: Digital Education

This case study outlines the integration of Microsoft Excel Associate and Expert certifications, and Generative AI Foundations certification into Accounting programmes at Technological University Dublin. Certifications were embedded directly into module assessment structures and supported through GMetrix and LearnKey, providing students with exam-aligned practice, automated feedback, and flexible independent learning opportunities. The approach combined lecturer-led instruction with structured self-paced practice, enabling students to gain internationally recognised micro-credentials alongside academic credit. Observations indicated increased student engagement, confidence, and participation in applied classroom activities. Graduate feedback also highlighted the value of advanced digital and Excel skills during workplace induction, demonstrating the employability …

Associations Between Traumatic Life Events And Substance Use Among Black Men Who Are Incarcerated, Jasmine K. Jester, Brittany Miller-Roenigk, Paris B. Wheeler, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The current study examined associations between traumatic life events, current and lifetime importance of mental health and substance use treatment, and crack cocaine use among 201 Black men who were incarcerated and nearing community reentry. Results indicated age, sexual trauma and lifetime importance of drug treatment were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of crack cocaine use. Substance abuse treatment in correctional settings should consider culturally tailored assessment and treatment for history of unaddressed sexual trauma among Black men who are incarcerated and use crack cocaine.

¡Adelante! The Path To Success Community Brief (¡Adelante! El Camino Hacia El Éxito Informe Comunitario), Dina T. Garcia, Jacky Alvarez, Alexia Muñoz-Moctezuma, Kristal Parada, Jorge Piocuda, Pablo De Cuba Soria

Social and Behavioral Sciences Publications

This community brief describes the development, implementation, and impact of ¡Adelante! The Path to Success, a first-year student success course at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) designed to support Latine/x/a/o students in their transition to college. Developed through collaboration among faculty, staff, and student support professionals, the course centers community building, identity exploration, wellness, academic success, and career development within a culturally responsive learning environment. Rooted in VCU’s commitment to student success and belonging, Adelante provides structured opportunities for students to connect with peers, mentors, campus resources, and Latine/x/a/o professionals. The brief highlights the program’s origins, ongoing sustainability through the Adelante …

In Their Own Words: Why First-Generation Minority Students Take On Leadership Roles At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Suzette Ramsundar Ed.D

Theses and Dissertations

While there is an abundance of research on student leadership and how it impacts student retention (Tinto, 1987 and Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005), it is typically from the university's perspective. This phenomenological study, however, investigated the experiences and perceptions of first-generation minority students who commuted to campus and pursued leadership roles at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Utilizing phenomenological methodology, this research examined the lived experiences of eight student leaders to understand how they made meaning of their leadership engagement.

Student leaders in this study shared the details of the significant challenges they navigated, including financial pressures, commuting demands, cultural barriers, and …

Leveraging Virtual Reality And Haptics To Teach Surgical Skills: A Usability Study On Retropubic Midurethral Slings, Lauren Siff, Ginger S. Watson, Jerome Dixon, Moshe Feldman, Franklin Bost, Philippe J. Giabbanelli

VMASC Publications

Traditional methods to learn soft-tissue surgical procedures rely on cadaver labs or patient-based learning, which are costly and geographically limited, and raise ethical questions. Virtual reality (VR) with haptic feedback offers a scalable alternative, but most current platforms emphasize bone-based rather than soft-tissue procedures learned by feel. We developed a VR+haptic simulation for preoperative training of retropubic midurethral sling (MUS) surgery. This study examines the usability of this platform with thirteen expert urogynecologic surgeons and subsequently makes improvements (e.g., in haptics) to evaluate the platform with twelve trainees based on the NASA Task Load Index for workload and a UTAUT-informed …

International Evidence On The Relationship Between Financial Literacy And Corporate Cash Holdings, Kenneth Yung, Reza Kahibavil, Su Li, Arian Amidi

Finance Faculty Publications

This study is the first investigation of the relationship between corporate cash holdings and financial literacy (FL). We find that a one‐standard‐deviation increase in FL is associated with an 8%–27% reduction in corporate cash holdings, depending on the measure of FL used. Moreover, higher FL reduces the market value of excess cash, indicating that financially literate environments discourage value‐destroying cash accumulation. The results remain robust across alternative definitions of FL and cash holdings, estimation methods, and country subsamples. We further rule out the influence of endogeneity, refinancing risk, and variation in cash needs. Additional analyses identify agency costs as the …

A Qualitative Study: How Does The Underrepresentation Of Black American Contributions To American Society In K-12 Curricula Affects Black Students' Self-Perception?, Deniece M. Rogers

Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University

This qualitative phenomenological study examined how the underrepresentation of Black American history in K–12 curricula influences individuals’ understanding of American society, identity, and cultural belonging. Using open-ended questionnaires distributed via Qualtrics, thirty-seven participants reflected on their educational experiences, the extent to which Black American history was included, and how its omission shaped their self-perception and social awareness. Guided by Critical Race Theory (CRT) and The 1619 Project, the study was organized around six a priori themes identified in existing scholarship: Awareness of Historical Omission, Identity and Self-Perception, Social and Cultural Impact, Reactions to the Education System, Emotional Responses, and Broader …

Cultivating Critical Consciousness: The Role Of Dialogic And Reflective Writing In An 8th-Grade Literacy Classroom, Lucijan Jovic

Theses & Dissertations

Developing critical consciousness is an integral component of literacy instruction in education. Using Freire’s Conscientização, or Critical Consciousness, Theory, I conducted a qualitative action research study to examine how engaging in the dialogic writing processes contributes to the development of critical consciousness among students in an 8th-grade literacy classroom. Additionally, this study seeks to unpack, further understand, and make meaning of the instructional practices and experiences in my writing course. Utilizing ethnographic methods such as reflective field notes and memos, critical observation, and inductive/deductive coding helped me trace class and dialogue group conversations for arising themes and examine student work …

Access, Outcomes, And Sustainability In Seal Of Biliteracy Programs: Exploring Coordinators' Perceptions On Long Island, Faith Patricia Tripp

Theses & Dissertations

The New York State Seal of Biliteracy (SoBL) is an award recognizing high school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional world language. Despite New York State's early adoption of the SoBL in 2012 and Long Island's regional leadership in awarding the seal, research suggests the credential disproportionately benefits White, English- dominant students rather than the multilingual learners it was originally meant to serve. Through semi-structured interviews with eight SoBL coordinators across fiscally and demographically diverse districts on Long Island, my study investigated how they described the program's value, the challenges and successes in implementation, and …

Clifton Photo Service Photographic Negatives, Zach S. Henderson Library Special Collections

Finding Aids

This collection consists of 106 photographic negatives created by the Clifton Photo Service of Statesboro, Georgia. The images primarily depict local school life at Statesboro High School, Georgia Teachers College and Southeast Bulloch. Subjects include campus buildings and classrooms as well as student life, athletics, school events and student portraiture.

Preservice Teachers' Visions And Understandings Of Classroom Documentation And Displays Of Children's Work In Elementary Schools, Angela Eckhoff

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

At present, research exploring educator’s understandings of displays of student work is scant yet such displays are regularly exhibited within the community spaces of early learning and elementary schools. These displays communicate messages to those within the space about teacher and student agency, curricular priorities, children and their work, and the relationship between teaching and learning. Grounded in a framework of documentality and teacher vision, this paper explores the ways in which preservice teachers (PSTs) understand teacher-cultivated, student work documentation. This research used a Photo-Elicitation Interview methodology to develop a descriptive account of PSTs' visions and understandings of teacher-cultivated, classroom …

Methodological Insights And Trends: Participatory Positioning Of Children And Youth In Visual Art Education Research, Angela Eckhoff

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Participatory research methods have a focus on facilitating research processes that engage with participants and, as such, aim to promote individual voice, facilitate richer reflection and dialogue, and enable the articulation of participants' unique experiences. To explore the degree to which participatory practices are enacted in visual art education research, the present study critically examines the agentic positioning of children and youth in school‐based, visual arts experiences through a systematic, methodological literature review. Findings from this review serve to ground proposed recommendations for the inclusion of supportive research practices that carefully attend to the unique considerations that arise during participatory …

Integrating Design Thinking In A Stem Methods Course, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Design thinking, a problem-solving approach, has been offered as a strategy to address the challenges of growing and complex teaching expectations. In this narrative, I describe an adapted model of design thinking that was implemented in a secondary STEM methods course for teacher candidates in a graduate program. A description of the key activities, including the fundamental role of empathizing, is shared. Design thinking, when implemented by teachers and teacher candidates, allows the teacher to design and improve a lesson or unit based on student feedback and engagement. This is especially important in today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, where educators …

Secondary Teachers' Experiences In International Professional Development For Convergence Research In Stem And Tradition, Rachel Sparks White, Kristie S. Gutierrez, James K. Ferri

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Convergence education promotes learning experiences that integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to address complex real-world problems. However, secondary teachers often report limited access to professional development (PD) and curricular resources that support transdisciplinary instruction. This exploratory case study examines how four secondary teachers (three chemistry; one engineering) made sense of a transdisciplinary PD model, Convergence Research in STEM and Tradition (CReST), that leverages cultural heritage artifacts (Renaissance frescoes) as boundary objects to connect chemistry, engineering, world history, and technology. Teachers participated in a four-day immersive PD experience in Firenze (Florence) and Pisa, Italy, that included site-based learning, interaction …

(Re)Making Our Own Monsters: Critical Posthumanism And Youth Activism In The Wild Ones, Judith Dunkerly-Boulanger

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study examines the graphic novel The Wild Ones through a critical posthumanist lens and multimodal content analysis (MMCA) to explore its portrayal of youth activism, cultural diversity, and interconnectedness. The story follows four children who summon monsters from their cultural folklore to resist capitalist developers’ demolition of their apartment building. The analysis identifies three key themes: wildness as a source of constructive power, the challenge to anthropocentric narratives, and intersectional youth empowerment. The book subverts traditional hierarchies by blending human and nonhuman agency and emphasizing relational networks among humans, nonhumans, and the environment. The monsters serve as symbols of …

Participatory Approaches To Understanding Collaborative, Child-Initiated Play: Children's Agency, Social Negotiation, And Identity Construction On The Playground, Angela Eckhoff

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Children's play in schools is often tightly controlled, shaped by adult beliefs and concerns about safety and appropriateness. Play in school settings can reflect expected school norms and follow rules set by adults, but free play also allows for rough, risky, mischievous, and subversive actions. This research, guided by an affordance framework, examines spontaneous, child-initiated outdoor free play to understand how children navigate and reinterpret the boundaries of play. Using critical naturalistic inquiry and participatory methods, the study data includes children's videography that captures dynamic interactions and shifts in agency among peers, go along interviews that track boundary negotiations in …

'I Want To Learn Biology And Preserve My Culture' Testing The Efficacy Of A Culturally Relevant And Context Specific Approach, Umar Adam, Musa Adekunle Ayanwale, Hafsat Mustapha, Sakibu Olajide Saibu, Tunde Owolabi, Adekunle Ibrahim Oladejo

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Background

The dominance of Western-inspired teaching methods and instructional materials has contributed to cultural erosion in African schools. In response, increasing attention has been directed toward culturally responsive approaches to decolonising science education. One such approach is the Culturo-Techno-Contextual Approach (CTCA), which enables African students to conceptualize science as culturally embedded knowledge, integrated into their everyday experiences and practically relevant to their lived realities.

Purpose

This study examined the potency of the CTCA in enhancing students' achievement in the biology topic of variation, which is widely regarded as conceptually challenging.

Sample

The study involved 105 Senior Secondary II students from …