Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Witnessing Engaged Voices: A Feminist Pedagogy Of Inclusion, Alana M. Nicastro, Patricia Geist-Martin

Feminist Pedagogy

When student perspectives, needs, and wants are left out of academic discourse, the discursive structures necessary to encourage, organize, and evaluate their voice are absent. Students then become ambivalent instead of exercising their voice and decisively assessing the value of their contributions. This original teaching activity targets the problematics that constrain voices in the classroom and invites readers and listeners to consider their positionality and action as a commitment to a Feminist Pedagogy of Inclusion (FPoI). In this way, students and professors can deliberately hold a space where the act of witnessing is more than simply observing voice. The intended …

Mindfulness Is When “You Don’T Think At All, You Just Do Whatever You Want Without Thinking Of The Consequences”: Reframing Mindfulness In A Third-Grade Classroom, Emily Colwell

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

This study explored the influences that five minutes of daily mindfulness activities had on third-grade students in a math and science classroom, as well as both student and teacher perceptions of the mindfulness activities. The researcher implemented five minutes of a mindfulness activity daily during a three-week period. Data collection methods included pre-and-post surveys, observations with field notes, student artifacts, and student and teacher interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed using the constant comparative method to look for recurring themes and numerical data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Four major themes emerged including better understanding of what mindfulness is, the role …

Oer In University Language Courses, Jenny Ceciliano

World Languages and Literatures Faculty Publications and Presentations

Open Educational Resources (OER) offer incredible advantages in language teaching and learning. Implementing an OER curriculum can result in benefits that go far beyond controlling costs for students, which is itself a significant step toward improving equity. Drawing on your own experience and expertise as language educators, as well as the contributions of collaborators around the world, it is possible to build a curriculum customized for your unique student group. With thoughtful design, your program can help students achieve desired learning outcomes not just in language acquisition, but also in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In this talk, I will …

Strength, Beauty, And Resilience: The Impact Of Self Reflection & Exploration Of Memory On Postmodern Feminist Educators, Inside And Outside The Classroom, Maryjo M. Rosania-Harvie

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study utilizes an autoethnographic methodology, informed by narrative inquiry, to explore the impact of memories on feminist educators. The participants in the study included two of the researcher’s former colleagues and one former student. The study's goal was to examine how the relationships between researcher and participant and the memories they shared impacted them as educators; in the process, the concept of authenticity in educators was examined in relation to the research and the participants’ feminist and postmodern approach. The researcher collected qualitative data through interviews, personal journals, timelining, and an epistolary writing exercise to define authenticity and explore …

Use Of Encouragement In The Classroom To Help Students Succeed [2022], Erin Fieldhouse

Master's Theses

This case study is based on a one student study that used a mixed methods approach seeing the effects of encouragement in the classroom and how it might help a student socially and emotionally. Data was collected throughout a 12-week period based around the findings of field notes and a survey that was implemented into the classroom. Preliminary findings are inconclusive based on students having more difficulties that affect them in different ways. This paper will provided [sic] information about how to use encouragement in the classroom.

Teachers are always trying to find new methods to help their students. …

Identifying The Racial Implicit Biases Of Pre-Service Teachers And Analyzing Their Impact On Students, Lauren Lagan

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

Implicit biases reflect the unconscious beliefs and viewpoints held against populations of people that influence our interactions with others. The adverse impact of educators’ implicit biases on students influences disciplinary actions, setting expectations, and perpetuates the opportunity gap. Due to the implicitness of these biases, people are often unaware they exist, but the impact is apparent in disproportionate disciplinary and graduation rates of diverse populations of students. Pre-service teachers are entering the profession with limited understanding of how implicit biases form, how they are present in schools, and the negative effects of implicit biases on the lives of students. The …

Examining Diversity And The Role And Influence Of Post-Secondary Faculty At A Predominantly White Institution In Tennessee: A Critical Race Case Analysis, Lanell Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, critical race analysis study is to explore how White faculty conceptualize and apply critical race theory (CRT) and culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) to curricula within a college of education and how the perceptions of their students’ identities influence specific pedagogical decisions. The researcher sought to extend the research on CRT in education by analyzing specific, detailed cases and incorporating purposeful sampling by selecting participants who match specific study criteria, i.e. graduate-level White faculty located in Tennessee who teach in programs of education.

This study was limited to six faculty in a college of education (in …

Virginia High Schools: Academic And Social Climate Performance Measures And Black Public Secondary School Administrators, Tim Duncan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Data have consistently revealed a major problem with disproportionality in several academic and social climate measures for African American students compared to their White counterparts. Black students tend to have lower end-of-course (EOC) testing scores in mathematics and reading, a greater tendency to be suspended from school, lower average on-time graduation rates, and higher rates of absenteeism. The current investigative study examined the role of same race administrators and performance indicators among African American students.

The findings demonstrated that significant differences between Black and White students existed in end-of-course testing in reading and math. The research also indicated significant relationships …

Representation Of Women & Bbia Composers In The Teaching Music Through Performance In Band Series, Alicia M. Turnquist

Honors Thesis

One problem seen in music education curriculum today is the underrepresentation of Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian (BBIA), and female composers in the band ensemble repertoire. Throughout history, these composers have been excluded in the curriculum causing an overrepresentation of white non-Hispanic male composers. Some music education organizations are beginning to address this issue but, few, if any, have addressed the problem in the band classroom setting. This project examined the repertoires selected in the first ten volumes of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series to examine how representative the composers included in the series were to the K-12 …

Encouraging Adolescents To Be Self-Directed Learners: Influences Of Classroom Motivation On Student Outcomes, Katherine Stearley

Senior Honors Projects

Teaching American adolescents in public schools presents a unique challenge: how to foster an instructional environment that simultaneously encourages intrinsic desires for lifelong learning, allows for the development of self-determination and autonomy, and teaches students appropriate academic skills. It was hypothesized that relying mainly on extrinsic motivations would be associated with more problematic outcomes for students while relying mainly on intrinsic motivations would be associated with more desirable outcomes. Additionally, it was hypothesized that schools organized around different educational philosophies would favor the use of different motivational strategies. A literature review was conducted that included a review of theories of …

Urban Literacy: Learning To Read The City Around You, Leanne Claire Serbulo

PDXOpen: Open Educational Resources

This book introduces students to the basic concepts of urban studies. It is an interdisciplinary text that was developed for lower-division undergraduate students. The book is organized into thematic chapters that explore different aspects of urban life, such as the environment, housing, and culture. Each chapter introduces a new way of conceptualizing the city, presents core theories and concepts, and provides examples and case studies from cities around the globe to illustrate the ideas presented in the text. At the end of each chapter, there are review questions and a series of interactive field activities where students can apply the …

Increasing Social Awareness Skills In Kindergarten Students, Chloe Dennis

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Social awareness is a key component of social-emotional learning and is often underrepresented in kindergarten curriculum. Students who struggle with social awareness are at a greater risk for antisocial behaviors, low academic performance, diminished self-efficacy, low motivation, and low adaptability. Jean Piagets’ cognitive-developmental theory places kindergarten-age students in the preoperational stage of development. At this stage, children are egocentric, exhibit centrated thought, and struggle to use perspective and empathic skills. Kindness, problem-solving, and maintaining positive relationships are all rooted in social awareness and require students to move away from egocentric thinking. I designed a three-part lesson on acts of kindness …

Nature-Based Education For Elementary Students With Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Kayleigh Morrison

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There are several advantages to including a nature-based curriculum and outdoor learning into state standards, and the consequences of students who do not have access to outside learning and activities can be severe. The term “Attention Restoration Theory” (ART) was coined by psychology professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in 1989 and claims that exposure to nature can improve mental fatigue and concentration. This senior capstone examines Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory and academic studies rooted in its philosophy as it applies to nature-based curriculum and outdoor learning. There are certain advantages for students who are exposed to a nature-based curriculum and …

Math Identity Experience Of College Students In Developmental Courses: The Effects Of Chronological Multicultural Mathematics, Jonah Shulman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The present grant funded study by the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects investigated the effects of a chronological multicultural mathematics (CMM) framework on math identity and math achievement of student participants enrolled in two virtual post-secondary developmental math courses (N=9). The students were selected due to an inability to pass previous developmental courses or the placement exam to earn entrance into credit bearing math courses. An exploratory mixed methods case study utilized interviews, reflections, surveys, classwork, and grades to arrive at conclusions. Student participants were exposed to supplemental additions to the curriculum that provided elements of past (founders and …

A Sociocultural Analysis Of Book-Length Works Mentioned In The English Journal, 2010-2020, Elizabeth Price

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

Between 2010 and 2020, the book-length works mentioned in the English Journal were recorded in order to assess societal and professional trends reflected in the uptake of these books in pedagogical articles. The data shows a continued heavy presence of canonical literature, particularly Shakespearean plays, as well as an increase in diverse perspectives, a higher respect for new genres such as Young Adult Literature and the Graphic Novel in the classroom, and a pushback on two popular novels, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Examining The Experiences That Motivate High School Students To Read For Leisure, Umair Farooq

International Graduate Program for Educators Master's Projects

In my role as a high school principal, I feel that reading is an essential tool for gaining a better grasp of the world around us and enhancing one's academic skills. As is the case with many others in my area, and before starting this research, I was worried about the decline in motivation to read for leisure that generally begins in the high school years (Brozo et al., 2014). Students' enjoyment of reading can be stifled by schools' use of forced reading practices, the selection of texts that do not match their identity, and a lack of knowledge of …

Developing And Evaluating A Psychoeducation Booklet About The Mental Health Effects Of Discrimination, Margarita Manzano, Ellalandra Arakelow, Aldona Chorzepa, Leigha Clarke, Skylor Loiseau, Dawson Hughes, Theodore Macgowan, Elizabeth Brondolo

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

Discrimination has been consistently linked to depression. Despite evidence suggesting that individuals targeted for discrimination want to discuss discrimination-related stress, research suggests that therapists are not engaging in these conversations. There are limited psychoeducational materials available to support conversations about race-related stress and mental health, and there are limited data on their effects. This paper describes the development and initial evaluation of a new psychoeducational booklet which provides information about discrimination and depression. The information provided is based on social cognitive models of the relations of discrimination to depression. We provide a description of the development of the psychoeducational materials, …

Providing Immunizations In The Early Stages Of The Covid-19 Pandemic; A Community Pharmacist And Student Pharmacist's View, Nicole Yioupis, Sophia Villa, Noelle J. Ryan-Bloom, Carmela Avena-Woods

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

This article describes the experience of a community pharmacist and two student pharmacists early in 2020. It shares their unique experiences in providing novel vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic while completing their Community Pharmacy Advance Pharmacy Practice Experientials (APPEs) at St. John’s University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Having the ability to participate in vaccination clinics, serving various communities, during an unprecedented time had a positive impact not only the community they served, but the experience also helped to cultivate them as future pharmacists.

Discrimination, Acculturative Stress, And Academic Achievement In Emerging Adults, Rebecca Steele, Amanda Rosado, Nancy Hernandez, Elizabeth Brondolo

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

Researchers report an association of racial discrimination to academic achievement for racial/ethnic minority students. Racial discrimination is manifest on multiple levels, including interpersonal discrimination, discrimination in schools, and societal and cultural discrimination. Researchers have generally focused their efforts on examining the effects of one type of discrimination on academic achievement. Further, mediators of this relation have not been fully explored. In a sample of 78 college students, we found only interpersonal racial/ethnic discrimination, and not school-based or societal discrimination was negatively associated with GPA. However, the effects did not hold once controlling for demographic factors. We examined two potential mediators …

The Sisterarchy Of Indian Feminism, Shweta Sinha

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

The paradigm of feminism in India is deeply entrenched in its socio-cultural-political-economic reality. It is an ever-evolving byproduct of patriarchy borne out of the caste-system, colonialism, urbanism (‘Westernism’), and capitalism. As a result, the plurality within Indian feminism is predicated on the multiple patriarchies that exist within the Indian society. Therefore, while parsing feminism in India, it is imperative to identify and acknowledge the various sub-groups and intersectionality that exist within the larger framework of women’s issues.

Amongst all the marginalized factions that exist within the feminist framework, this study attempts to investigate a specific caste/class-based intersectional perspective, i.e., Dalit …

Understanding Barriers To Sexual Assault Reporting Among Undergraduate Sorority Women, Isabella Rivera

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

This study aimed to examine the correlation between knowledge of sexual health and sexual assault, and the subsequent disclosure of sexual assault amongst undergraduate women in sororities at St. John’s University. During the academic year (2019-2020), the number of reported sexual assaults on campus was discrepant among the perception of the student body, with students believing there to be a higher number of incidents than reported to the University. Possible causes of the lack of formal sexual assault reporting were investigated. This included the knowledge of undergraduate women at St. John’s University pertaining to sexual health, reproductive health, university resources, …

Manger A Travers Les Cultures: A Comparative Look At Food Waste, Awareness And Redistribution Potential, Chloe Bergeron

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

In the most recent nation-wide studies, France’s estimated annual food waste, as of 2017, is 1.8% (Barilla Center, 2017). Conversely, the United States’ estimated annual food waste, as of 2010, is between 30-40% (USDA, 2010). This research compared University of Paris students’ and St. John’s University students’ awareness and knowledge of food waste on an individual, university, and governmental level to gain an in-depth understanding of the impacts of reduction practices and awareness methods such as campaigns and education. This study examines university students’ relationship to food and food waste in the United States versus France, redistribution potential, and the …

Jovsa: The Faculty/Student Research Connection, Anthony C. Marziliano, Hira Shafeeq, Marc E. Gillespie

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

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Journal of Vincentian Social Action

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Editors

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

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Journal of Vincentian Social Action

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The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round: Rethinking The St. Louis Busing Program, Tango Walker, Ketosha Harris

Dissertations

This autoethnography shares our personal experiences and counter-narratives in the St. Louis busing program. Through our mission we expound on experiences and real-life situations as seen through our lens as a student and a mother in the St. Louis busing program. Critical race theory (CRT) was used as an essential framework allowing us to focus on the following four tenets: counter-stories, permanence of racism, whiteness as property, interest convergence. (Anderson, et al., 2017). Critical race theory (CRT) is the framework in social sciences that examines society and culture as it relates to categorization of race, law and power (Lynn & …

My First Time Ungrading: Approach Used And Reflections, Heather Leslie

Feminist Pedagogy

A few months ago, I began devouring information about ungrading with a fervent appetite. I started with the book Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What To Do Instead) edited by Susan Blum and listened to just about every podcast where she was interviewed about this topic. I then read other books she recommended like Wad-Ja-Get: The Grading Game in American Education by Howard Kirschenbaum and Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, and Praise by Alfie Kohn. Recently, I have become much more dialed into the ungrading movement by reading articles from Teachers Going …

Philosophical Hermeneutics As An Interpretive Framework In The Analysis Of Colin Kaepernick’S Nfl Protest, E. Anthony Muhammad, Cynthia Thomas

Curriculum, Foundations & Reading: Faculty Publications

One of the more polarizing issues that captivated society in recent years was the controversy surrounding National Football League (NFL) athletes kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem. Initiated by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as a display of protest against police brutality, kneeling during the anthem sparked a firestorm of controversy and a national debate. In this study the controversy and the two men behind it will be analyzed through the lens of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics. Specifically, this study will highlight how Colin Kaepernick and Army veteran Nate Boyer experienced a fusion of horizons that produced the kneeling …

Is There A Lesson From Comparing The Covid-19 Pandemic To The Experience Of Disability? A Response To Carol Rogers-Shaw’S “Disabled Lives & Pandemic Lives: Stories Of Human Precarity”, Tonette Rocco, Debaro Huyler

Occasional Paper Series

In “Disabled Lives & Pandemic Lives: Stories of Human Precarity,” Carol Rogers-Shaw narrates several stories that convey the anguish, trauma, loss, and horror experienced by many during the pandemic. Through storytelling, she demonstrates that “the pandemic experiences we shared might provide a foundation to build … parallels between living with a disability and living in a pandemic.” Even so, Rogers-Shaw cautions us not to get distracted by pandemic-related issues or inspirational stories. Instead, she correctly points out that COVID-19 pandemic experiences mirror the unpleasant aspects of daily life for people with disabilities.