Education Commons^™

Rewriting The Future: Examining The Influence Of Mentoring On Ged Graduates' Pursuit And Performance In Postsecondary Education, Shari Antoinette Crain

Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of GED graduates who were mentored while earning their GED and examined how those mentoring experiences contributed to their academic achievement in community college. Although increasing numbers of adult learners pursue postsecondary education through the GED pathway, many encounter barriers related to academic confidence, institutional navigation, and access to support systems. Limited research has examined how mentoring supports GED graduates during their transition into higher education.

Guided by the College Student Mentoring Scale developed by Nora and Crisp (2009), this study examined mentoring experiences across four domains: psychological and emotional support, degree and …

Principal Leader Behaviors That Create Meaning For Their Teachers To Reduce Stress And Burnout, Angelina Santana

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary high school principals use to create meaning for themselves and their teacher followers through relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration. In addition, the study aimed to determine the new teachers’ perceived degree of importance of the principal leader behaviors related to relationships, character, vision, wisdom, and inspiration to help create meaning.Methodology: The mixed methods convergent study design uses qualitative and quantitative means to collect and analyze data to understand how exemplary high school principals make meaning for their teacher followers. First, qualitative interviews …

Hidden Gems Of Clay County: “Snap + Say Something” Inquiry Protocol, David Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was to design an immersive, place‑based learning experience that helps preservice teachers engage with primary sources connected to the history and culture of Clay County, Minnesota. In collaboration with the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, preservice teachers visited the Hjemkomst Center and used autophotography to document artifacts, exhibits, and moments that helped them understand what makes Moorhead and the wider Clay County community a unique and meaningful place. Alongside their photographs, they wrote reflections explaining why each image captures an aspect of Clay County as a “special place.” This approach is intended …

4-H Stem Ambassador Impact Study: The Lasting Effects Of Informal Stem Service Learning Through 4-H Camp Instruction, Emma Hay Gardner

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Although short-term outcomes of service learning are widely documented, far less is known about how these experiences influence participants years after their service concludes. Research on STEM-focused service learning is especially limited. This mixed methods study examined the long-term impacts of a West Virginia University STEM Ambassador program, in which college students served as near-peer STEM educators during summer youth 4-H programs. This study explored the lasting effects on former participants across four domains identified in the Service Learning Benefit (SELEB) scale: practical skills, interpersonal skills, citizenship skills, and personal responsibility skills.

Survey data from former participants (n=75), follow up …

Vocational Education And Employment Outcomes For Individuals With Disabilities: Trends, Barriers, And Supported Employment Practices, Taylor John Peterson

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines literature that focuses on vocational education and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. This paper includes current vocational practices, barriers to employment, and the effectiveness of supported employment for individuals with disabilities. The studies used for this thesis show that work-based learning, career and technical education (CTE), and instruction in employability skills positively affect students’ employment outcomes. There are also barriers to employment for individuals with disabilities. They include employer misconceptions, limited accommodations, and a lack of transition services. Individuals with disabilities who receive supported employment have a much greater chance of obtaining employment. The findings in …

Seeing Success Through Functional Vision: Screening, Education, And Intervention Within Mtss For Kindergarten Students, Falynne Marie Rzezuski

OTD Capstones

Visual skills are essential for participation in early academic tasks including reading, writing, classroom engagement, and learning. However, functional vision difficulties often go unrecognized in kindergarten students, potentially affecting their academic performance and ability to learn within educational settings. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and pilot a functional vision screening tool and program using a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework for kindergarten students. A literature review informed the development of the project, including the creation of the functional visual screening tool, integration within MTSS, Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, and educational resources for educators …

The Second Little Book Of Joy: More Ways To Infuse Delight Into Teaching And Learning, Eugene Korsunskiy

Dartmouth Scholarship

This is the second volume in a growing collection that started as The Little Book of Joy: Tiny Ways to Infuse Delight Into Teaching and Learning ( https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/4352).

This second volume presents 36 new practices authored by educators and students for bringing joy into our classrooms.

As teachers, we know that a joyful learning environment helps students thrive. We know that fun is an important catalyst of-not a distraction from-the rigorous work of teaching and learning. A growing body of research supports this intuition, showing that joy helps with focus, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, perseverance in the face of challenges, …

How Have Trump-Era Immigration And Visa Policies Affected International Students From The 75 Restricted Countries At Minnesota State University, Mankato, Ameer Wazwaz

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Trump era immigration and visa policies have created a restrictive environment that disproportionately burdens international students from countries subject to United States travel restrictions and heightened vetting regimes. These policies operate through nationality-based entry restrictions, discretionary denials, extended administrative processing, and intensified screening. At Minnesota State University, Mankato, students from restricted countries face delayed arrivals, visa denials, disrupted reentry after travel, and uncertainty regarding immigration compliance, potentially reducing enrollment rates, increasing dropout risk, intensifying psychological stress, and weakening institutional trust.

This study employed a mixed methods of explanatory case study design centered on Minnesota State University, Mankato. Data sources included …

Examining The Enactment Of Teacher Leadership Through Self-Created Social Network Maps, Shanna Dawn Anderson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Much of a teacher’s work is unseen. It extends beyond classroom instruction and into collaborative, relational work that positions teachers as essential actors in educational change. Yet this work occurs within a neoliberal education system that intensifies accountability, erodes professional autonomy, and reinforces hierarchical, patriarchal models of authority. Although schools depend on teachers’ expertise, these structures constrain opportunities for collaborative professionalism and relational forms of leading and learning. This study pushed back on the neoliberal agenda and examined the phenomenon of teacher leadership. Using descriptive and interpretive phenomenology, I analyzed self-created social network maps and narrative data to understand how …

Seeking The Goodness In Culturally Responsive Practices Of New Jersey Suburban Public Elementary Teachers, Kimya S. Jackson

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

In the United States, suburban elementary schools continue to diversify, while teaching staff remain predominantly White, creating urgency for culturally responsive practices (CRP) in non-urban settings (Stanford, 2023). In this study, I examined CRP’s goodness enacted by four teachers in New Jersey suburban elementary schools, a context shaped by state mandates for diversity and inclusion (New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE), 2022). The question guiding my research was: In what ways do New Jersey suburban elementary (kindergarten through fifth grade) schoolteachers engage in culturally responsive practices? Using Lawrence-Lightfoot and Hoffman Davis’s (1997) portraiture methodology, I developed portraits of four suburban …

Adolescent Cyberbullying And Polysubstance Use: Unpacking Sex Differences, Maggie K. Richardson, Osayande Agbonlahor, Joy L. Hart, Meman Diaby, Delvon T. Mattingly

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The rise of social media platforms has heightened cyberbullying among adolescents, closely tied to negative mental health outcomes. Substance use, including alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco, also remains a significant concern for this population. This study examines the relationship between cyberbullying and substance use, exploring potential sex differences in these associations. We analyzed data from the 2021 Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) (n = 6,740 students in grades 9–12). We used multinomial logistic regression models to assess the relationship between past-year cyberbullying and current patterns of substance use (exclusive, dual, and poly), adjusting for sociodemographic factors, screen time, and mental …

Wild Rice Life Cycle: An Integrated Science, Social Studies, And Ela Lesson, Rhett Zima, Lily Deming

OER Materials

This lesson is designed to deepen students’ understanding of wild rice, a plant native to Minnesota, by integrating life science concepts such as structure, function, life cycles, and seed dispersal with prior knowledge from English Language Arts and Social Studies. Using the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), students participate in a structured, inquiry-based learning experience. They begin by connecting to prior knowledge and generating questions, then investigating the life cycle and growth patterns of wild rice through hands-on exploration. As students build their understanding, they analyze how the plant’s seed dispersal supports its survival and reproduction. …

Closing The Literacy Gap: Comparing Student Outcomes Based On Three Phonemic Awareness Programs, Juanita Diaz

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The nationwide literacy crisis has been in existence for decades. Numerous governmental acts, research, and studies have yet to positively affect the nationwide literacy policies and instruction in schools. The Science of Reading, a body of research from many disciplines inclusive and exclusive of education, has illustrated how structured literacy can positively affect reading outcomes. One of the skills under literacy, phonemic awareness, is an instrumental foundational reading skill that researchers have identified as critical to early literacy and eventual reading proficiency. Historically, many districts have not been mandated to utilize instructional tools or practices grounded in research or evidence. …

Teacher Burnout In 2026 - Context, Student Effects, And Interventions, Colin David Thies

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order to aid teachers in 2026, this paper aims to identify what teachers and administrators can do to protect against and treat teacher burnout in K-12 schools. To achieve this, research was conducted on the post-pandemic context of teacher burnout, the secondary effects of teacher burnout on students, individual and organizational interventions. Teacher burnout is a multifaceted ailment, and many of the factors behind burnout can be beyond one’s control. There is no single answer, though there is an emphasis on emotions, as research suggests emotions may be greatly important to both succumbing to and treating teacher burnout. Thus, …

Integrating Discipline-Specific Literacy In Business Education: Implications For Skill Development, Katherine M. Mitzner, Quinn J. Longueville

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Literacy is a vital part of a students’ education. Not only is it important to know how to read, but it is also important for students to comprehend what is read. There are many aspects of literacy, including content area literacy and disciplinary literacy. This thesis explores the importance of disciplinary literacy in the context of a business education lens and how business literacy impacts the success of a secondary student. It explores disciplinary literacy, the impacts of business literacy on other fields, implementation in the classroom, and professional development for literacy strategies. Application materials related to the findings are …

Music-Based Interventions And Social Communication Outcomes For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tom M. Coughlin

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent differences in social communication, social interaction, and ritualistic and repetitive behaviors. This thesis examined participation in music-based instruction and intervention to support social communication outcomes for students with ASD. Literature studies included systematic reviews, empirical interventions, and music-based approaches, including improvisational music therapy, song-based instruction, classroom-based music intervention, and technology-mediated music-making. Across the literature, music-based practices were analyzed considering engagement, joint attention, emotional understanding, initiation, reciprocal interaction, and expressive communication. The literature reviewed suggests that music-based instruction and intervention provide meaningful contexts to support social communication skills for ASD students, highlighting the …

Lyell, Elizabeth Interview 21 November 2025, Elizabeth Lyell, Maughn Rollins Gregory, Megan Jane Laverty

All IAPC Oral Histories

In this IAPC Oral History Interview, Dr. Elizabeth Lyell reflects on her participation in the first cohort of the Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a Concentration in Philosophy for Children at Montclair State College during the 1981–1982 academic year. Lyell recounts her introduction to philosophy for children, her intensive year of study with Matthew Lipman, Ann Margaret Sharp, and Phil Guin, and teaching philosophy in public school classrooms in Montclair, New Jersey and Harlem. Lyell offers vivid memories of Lipman as a teacher, mentor, and moral presence, highlighting his pedagogical generosity, seriousness, and commitment to grounding philosophy in …

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 …

But Who Are The Victims? Reassessing The 568 Higher Education Cartel, James V. Koch

Economics Faculty Publications

Thirty prestigious independent American institutions of higher education were at some time members of the 568 higher education group (often labeled a cartel). Seventeen of them were sued by the U.S. Government and representative students who alleged that their meetings and deliberations resulted in collusion that caused students to pay higher prices. Twelve of the seventeen institutions subsequently settled their cases and by 2024 collectively had paid $284 million to do so. However, an inspection of these institutions' pricing reveals that the median 568 Group institution lowered its average real net annual cost to its undergraduate students by 19.07% between …

The Level Of Faculty Members' Awareness At The University Of Tabuk Of The Importance Of Using Artificial Intelligence Applications In Teaching According To Selected Demographic Variables, Mufleh Bin Qublan Bin Bajad Al Judea

University of Tabuk Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences

The present study investigates the level of awareness among faculty members at the University of Tabuk regarding the importance of employing artificial intelligence (AI) applications in teaching. To achieve this aim, the study examines the influence of several demographic and professional variables, including academic rank, gender, years of teaching experience, and the level of training in artificial intelligence. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted, and data were collected through a questionnaire administered to a sample of faculty members in the College of Education. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in awareness levels attributable to academic rank, gender, or teaching experience. …

Explainable Ai-Driven Predictive Maintenance Curriculum For Smart Manufacturing, Abdullah Al Mamun, Murat Kuzlu, Katherine Smith, Vukica Jovanovic, Dalya Ismael, Adel El-Shahat, Angela Sicaja, Md. Hedayetul Islam Chy

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Nowadays, Industry 4.0 has transformed manufacturing industries into a data-rich system driven by IoT, automation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Within this context, Predictive Maintenance (PdM) provides a proactive strategy that leverages heterogeneous sensor data such as vibration, acoustic, electrical, and visual signals along with historical performance and advanced analytics to forecast equipment failures before they occur. Usually, AI-driven PdM (AI-PdM) enhances this capability by integrating AI-based sensor analytics to automate fault prediction and optimize system reliability. However, traditional AI-PdM often functions as a “black box,” providing limited interpretability of its decision-making process and posing challenges for trust, validation, and human …

Exploring The Quality Of Educational Climate In Ethiopian Health Sciences Education: A Comparative Study Of Public And Private Institutions, Yenuse Molla, Temesgen Fereja, Ayenachew Assefa, Tegbar Yigzaw

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Educational environment plays a pivotal role in shaping the quality of health professionals' training. In Ethiopia, disparities in institutional resources, governance, and student support systems between public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) have raised concerns about the overall quality and equity of health science education. This study aimed to assess the status of the educational environment in selected public and private HEIs and propose targeted recommendations for its enhancement.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional case study research design was employed. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was administered to final-year undergraduate students across medicine, nursing, midwifery, and radiologic …

Raw Dataset For 300 University Ai Choices, Amanda Potasznik

Data and Datasets

A log of 300 universities, randomly sampled from IPEDS data, and documentation of their adoption (or not) of Generative AI technology, coded by company.

Developing A Socio-Ecological Thriving Resilience Model For Student Teachers In Myanmar, A Crises-Affected Context, Shwe Ye Phyo, Erika Kopp

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The teacher education journey of student teachers in Myanmar has become more challenging due to the combined effects of COVID-19 and political unrest. Preparing resilient teachers in such contexts requires an understanding of the challenges student teachers face and the strategies they employ. Through focus group interviews with 12 final-year student teachers, the study explored their challenges and strategies during their teacher education journey. Using constructivist grounded theory, data were analysed, and a Socio-Ecological Thriving Resilience Model was proposed. Student teachers overcame both professional and personal challenges through the active use of their own resources and contextual ones. This demonstrates …

Initial Teacher Education For Inclusion: Does Practicum Bring Pre-Service Teachers Closer To An Inclusive Approach?, Constanza Herrera-Seda, Constanza Cárdenas Alarcón, Carlos Vanegas-Ortega

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Practicum is considered an essential element of initial teacher education for inclusive education. In this article, we explore its contribution to the pre-service teachers' adoption of an inclusive approach. We conducted a qualitative, multicase study of three primary teacher education programmes in Chile. Through episodic interviews, we produced data from 18 pre-service teachers. The main results showed that practicum causes various emotions, cognitions, and actions that interact with the adoption of an inclusive approach. Overwhelming pre-service teachers’ emotions related to exclusion can undermine their self-efficacy, leading them to avoid an inclusive approach. Also, the practicum tends to reproduce deficit- …