Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions Of Online Tutoring As Early Field Experience, Kathryn Alton, Alison Puliatte, Megan Lawless, Yong Yu

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents - Excelsior 18.1, Excelsior

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Red Pen: Investigating The Formation Of Reader And Writer Identity Development In Preservice Teachers, Sarah Rutt Williams, Pengtong Qu, Lydia Denning

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The influence of identifying as a reader and writer in being a literacy teacher has been emphasized in the literature (Graves, 1983). However, few studies have explored how teacher education programs develop these identities in preservice teachers (PSTs). Grounded in Demerath’s (2006) epistemological identity theory, this study explored the fluid process of teacher identity formation, focusing on nurturing PSTs’ identities as readers and writers. The study took place over one semester in an English Education course. The researchers analyzed three PST participants’ weekly reflections about their beliefs regarding teaching and learning literacy. These statements revolved around topics that aligned with …

Content And Consequences: Impact Of Representation In Stem Higher Education Instructional Content On Marginalized Students, Nichole Ventura

Doctorate in Education

This qualitative study examined representation of historically marginalized students in STEM instructional content at the higher education level and its impact on their learning experiences. Despite growing diversity initiatives in STEM enrollment, curricular materials often fail to reflect the identities of underrepresented students. Using critical theory and interpretivist approaches, this research investigated how representation—or its absence—shapes students' sense of belonging, academic identity formation, and persistence. Through semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students from historically marginalized backgrounds, and purposeful sampling, this study captured the lived experiences of students engaging with STEM instructional materials. Interview protocols explored how students perceive their representation in …

Navigating The Ethical Landscape: A Field Reflection On The Dynamics Of Informed Consent In Qualitative Research, Khim Raj Subedi, Peshal Khanal

The Qualitative Report

Our paper analyses the practical dimensions of obtaining informed consent in qualitative research, drawing on the reflective insight from fieldwork conducted as part of a study on the professional identity of primary (elementary) teachers in community schools in Nepal. Our study builds on and extends the understanding of informed consent as a legal and ethical requirement (Kadam, 2017) while considering the complexities of fieldwork. Drawing on interactions with six teachers and using the first author's detailed fieldnotes and reflexive memos, our study explores the challenges researchers face in securing consent during qualitative interviews. We argue that the consent-seeking process should …

Adapting And Addressing Pedagogy To The Needs Of The Day: George Floyd And American Literature And American Civilization To 1877, Alexis C. Jones, Don Bouchard

Essays in Education

This article explores a unique educational response to the racial and social tensions ignited by George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests and civil unrest in 2020. Two professors at a small private college near Minneapolis/St. Paul collaboratively redesigned their American Literature to 1870 and American Civilization to 1877 courses, aiming to foster a space for civil discourse, critical inquiry, and social awareness among students. Employing Paulo Freire's concept of “conscientização” and Parker Palmer's vision of a community-centered classroom, the professors created a curriculum focused on primary sources and research-based journaling, which allowed students to critically examine America’s history of …

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Additions To Nursing Education: Accommodating The Complexity Of Today’S Populations And Assuring Evidence-Based Pathways Of Patient-Centered Care, Jamie Anne Marcus, Bonnette Villalba Webb, Abigail Pauline Batin Villarroya

FDLA Journal

Predicted demographic changes in the rising older than 65 populations with possible declining mental and physical health mandate adaptations to new professional nursing roles that will incorporate technology, and changing policy environments. Nursing experience, knowledge, and skills will transition to new cognitive pathways to think and process information. Nurses will be supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and become information integrators, health coaches, and continue to be deliverers of human caring. New transition pathways in nursing education to meet the needs of these diverse populations, and patient complex presentations will transcend to synergizing and optimize digital-age healthcare environments and assure …

Introduction: Facing The Challenge Of Ai With Feminist Pedagogy, Margaret A. Murray

Feminist Pedagogy

This special issue truly faces the challenge of AI with feminist pedagogy. The introduction briefly summarizes the five critical commentaries, five original teaching activities and three book reviews that make up this issue on AI.

Towards An Ecofeminist Pedagogy: The Environmental Ethics Of Ai, Jessica K. Crowell

Feminist Pedagogy

Previous scholarship has outlined some of the ethical considerations regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom and beyond, such as the potentials for plagiarism, information bias, disinformation, or even violations of user privacy. Though research suggests that machine learning is a major and ever-increasing contributor to carbon emissions, there has been little discussion of how we teach about the ethics of AI from an environmental perspective. Therefore, this critical commentary first outlines how an ecofeminist pedagogy can help students consider the environmental and ecological effects of new technologies, including AI. At its core, an ecofeminist pedagogy argues …

9th Gsep Research Symposium - 2025

GSEP Research Symposium

The Ninth Annual GSEP Research Symposium, themed "Building Bridges to Elevate Humanity: Innovations and Insights in Education and Psychology", was hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) on June 19–20, 2025, at the historic Château d’Hauteville in Switzerland and virtually via Zoom.

This hybrid symposium convened a vibrant global community of students, alumni, faculty, and scholars to share research that addresses real-world challenges, advances scholarly inquiry, and builds pathways for inclusive collaboration and leadership. Spanning a wide array of topics—from artificial intelligence and mental health to trauma-informed practices, educational equity, social justice, and cross-cultural leadership—the …

Red: A Crayon’S Story Bibliotherapy, David Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Are We Expert Enough? Confronting Self-Doubt Through Critical Friendship., Kristen Gregory, Mark Diacopoulos

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Ai To Democratize The Hidden Curriculum In Medical Education: An Implementation Framework, James Keith Martin Ii, Mercedes Byrd

Libraries Scholarship

The “hidden curriculum” in medical education—comprising unwritten rules, values, and expectations—significantly impacts student success, yet remains inaccessible to students from underrepresented backgrounds. This paper presents a theoretical framework and practical implementation strategy for using artificial intelligence (AI) to democratize access to this hidden curriculum. We analyze how cognitive load theory and the Fast/Slow Thinking paradigm explain inequities in professional integration, then propose a comprehensive implementation approach to guide equitable AI integration. This model demonstrates how AI tools, when thoughtfully implemented, can reduce cognitive burdens on disadvantaged students, accelerate professional acculturation, and contribute to building an inclusive medical workforce.

Framework Integration In Academia: Moving From Theory To Practice, Lori B. Doyle, Kara S. Bratton, Timothy Young, Catherine Webb, Cari A. Chittick, Heather L. Vezner, Rebecca A. Stanton, Tanya M. Tarbutton

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Character education has been a point of focus and research in K-12 education dating back to the 1990s. The work of integrating a character-forward framework in higher education is now considered a beneficial and impactful practice. One university has successfully completed the initial work of integrating a servant leadership framework in the School of Education using an approach in line with the community of practice model. The authors of this paper work together and have each played a key role in not only the early stages but the ongoing phases associated with maintaining and improving. This theory-to-practice article begins with …

Copyright Information

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Publication rights to works is granted to Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities, however, full copyright for works published in this journal is retained by the author(s). The author(s) may post their works online in an institutional repository, on their University departmental website, or on their own personal websites.

Galvanizing Community, Support, Well-Being, And Self-Efficacy: Supporting Doctoral Candidates Throughout The Dissertation Writing Process, Njeri M. Pringle, Jamie L. Workman

Journal of Graduate Education Research

Recent data published by the Council of Graduate Schools indicates approximately 40% of students who begin doctoral coursework do not complete their degree. This asserts the need for graduate schools to examine ways in which they can support their doctoral student population, particularly through the dissertation writing process. The purpose of this autoethnographic study was to explore two methods of dissertation writing support: a dissertation writing group sponsored by a graduate school and independent dissertation coaching services. The article highlights key findings from each support system and provides implications for dissertation writing group facilitators, dissertation coaches, and graduate schools.

Evaluating Current Practices In Operative Nontechnical Skills Training And Feedback In General Surgery Residency: A Mixed Methods Approach, Madeline Cloonan

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Non-technical skills (NTS) are the interpersonal and cognitive abilities that are critical to accomplishing high-risk tasks. Deficiencies in NTS, including communication, teamwork, leadership, and decision-making, are linked to errors in the operating room. Structured training and feedback in NTS remain inconsistent and have not been integrated into daily training. This dissertation addresses this gap by evaluating current NTS training and feedback practices and developing a rubric to enhance the effectiveness of NTS feedback.

Methods: We conducted five complementary studies to assess current NTS training and feedback. The first was a systematic review aimed at identifying intraoperative NTS training interventions …

Creating A Framework: Integrating Podcasting Into English For Academic Purposes Instruction, Holly Milkowart

Sabbatical Projects

This article presents a sabbatical-based investigation into the role of podcasting in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instruction at a community college. With a focus on real-world application, this project combined formal academic training in audio production with student-centered lesson planning and classroom implementation. Via student surveys and reflective practice, the project reveals how podcasting can give EAP students meaningful listening and speaking opportunities, promote language acquisition, and foster a sense of belonging within their communities. While enthusiasm for podcast creation was mixed, students showed high interest in academic podcast content. The project is ongoing and will continue through further …

Asset And Deficit Thinking: Ed.D. Students’ Perceptions And Preferences Around Their Instructors’ Feedback, Rebecca R. Simataa, Jordan O'Connell, Kateri Johnson, Christopher Dufault

Essays in Education

This study investigated cohort-based Ed.D. students’ perceptions and preferences related to deficit and asset-based instructor feedback. The researchers collected data from 28 current Ed.D. students through a survey based on Henderson et al.'s (2016) Feedback for Learning questions. While students generally perceived feedback as asset-focused, they expressed a need for more growth-oriented, individualized responses. Additionally, male participants significantly perceived more asset-based feedback than females, suggesting that demographic alignment between instructors and students may influence perceptions around feedback. Implications suggest that Ed. D. faculty can enhance feedback practices by choosing transactional or transformative approaches based on students' needs and preferences, offering …

Investigating The Impact Of Instructor Presence In Lecture Videos On Learning Experiences: A Comparative Study, Keone K. Fuqua

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

As online learning continues to grow, understanding how instructional design features influence student experience becomes increasingly important. One critical feature in video-based instruction in instructor presence - the degree to which the instructor is visually or vocally present in the lesson. The purpose of this study was to investigate how varying levels of instructor presence in asynchronous lector videos affect students' perceived relatedness, satisfaction, engagement, content retention, and cognitive effort.

A mixed methods experimental design was employed, with 93 undergraduate and graduate students from a public university randomly assigned to one of three video lesson conditions: Full Presence (instructor visible …

Rigor And Academic (Re)Socialization: The Faculty Role In Student Success Curriculum, Kendra Knight, Stephanie Grau, Elissa Foster, Jay Baglia

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

In the post-pandemic learning era, communication faculty experience tensions among expectations for flexibility, sensitivity to students’ well-being, and our commitment to the academic rigor of our courses. These tensions, we argue, may be resolved through offering academic (re)socialization as a stand-alone element of the communication curriculum. This essay explicates the development and implementation of a for-credit workshop-style course aimed at bridging gaps in student academic capital laid bare by the COVID-19 learning crisis. “Communication Fundamentals for College Success” is a collaborative effort among six communication instructors to support practical and socio-emotional skills that undergird students’ transdisciplinary intellectual growth. We reflect …

The Evolution Of Schooling: From Industrial Obedience To Techno-Autonomy, Seb Taylor, Ron Roberts Ii

Digital Laboratory: Publisher of Internet Journal

This paper examines the enduring architecture of the American education system as a mechanism designed for compliance, not creativity. Rooted in 19th-century industrial logic, the structure of schooling, its physical design, time constraints, and assessment methods, has remained largely static despite seismic cultural and technological shifts. Through historical analysis and contemporary critique, this work interrogates the persistence of standardized methods, institutional prestige, and top-down instruction as barriers to meaningful learning and value creation. Drawing from interdisciplinary research and live case studies, including Alpha School’s AI-powered, mastery-based model, the paper advances the concept of techno-education: a student-centered paradigm informed by feedback …

Better Together: Embedding Media Literacy Into Academic Courses, Chereeka Garner

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

In an era where digital information is abundant and often misleading, equipping college students with media literacy skills is more crucial than ever. This lightning talk will provide a streamlined guide to developing a comprehensive media literacy course specifically designed for college students. Attendees will learn about the essential components of the course, including how to design an engaging curriculum, implement effective teaching strategies, and utilize assessment methods to gauge student understanding.

Participants will be able to:

Understand the importance of media literacy within the broader context of information literacy and its impact on college students’ ability to navigate digital …

A Comparative Case Study Of Mentoring Practices By National Board Certified And Non-Certified Teacher Mentors, Bethany Mcclure

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As preservice teacher candidates engage in field experiences that shape their development of teacher identity, it is important to examine their perceptions of the mentoring process. This study explored how preservice teacher candidates construct their own knowledge about mentoring as a process, as well as explored the perceptions of mentor teachers, both National Board Certified, and non-National Board Certified, as they facilitated the learning and growth of their mentees. Many prior studies on the mentoring process exist, however, a gap in the literature that was identified and explored through this study included the impact that National Board Certified Teachers have …

Full Issue - Excelsior 17/2, Excelsior Journal

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Integrating Digital Escape Room Design Into Teacher Education: Cultivating Instructional Creativity In Preservice Teachers, Gina L. Solano, Wen Wen

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

This action research documents how a teacher education program incorporates game-based learning to engage pre-service teachers (PSTs) in developing their instructional creativity. In this project, game-based learning goes beyond playing games; Instead, it allows PSTs to design their own game-a digital escape room created using a website with embedded clues, digital locks, and online challenges. This paper showcases an impressive level of creativity through the variety and complexity of PSTs’ clues, the creative graphics and layout of their websites, and their cleverly written scenarios and context for the game. Moreover, PSTs reflect on their design processes, considering the affordances and …

Tips For Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs On College Campuses: Peer Mentors’ Perspectives On Access And Inclusion, Laura N. Sarchet, Kristen Love, Martha Mock

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

As inclusive postsecondary education programs have grown and improved towards more campus access for college students labeled with an intellectual disability, peer mentoring is a common model for such programs. Peer mentors from one private institution were asked to describe their experiences and perspectives of campus inclusion after participating in a training program designed to increase their understanding of disability within a social justice lens. Mentors shared the personal and professional benefits of mentoring, for both themselves and for students labeled with an intellectual disability, and noted recommendations for how programs can increase access to college in order to improve …

The Impact Of Mental Health Support On Academic Achievement, David Ersig, Tyrone Bynoe

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Mental health concerns are becoming more pressing in American culture. There is an increasing call for mental health issues to be prioritized in policy discussions involving need, strategy, and funding. Addressing the cultural stigma and various barriers surrounding treatment and support for mental health issues are concerns that have infiltrated our school system; these concerns have exerted increased pressure on educators to provide effective and efficient mental health support mechanisms. There is growing recognition and observation that improving students’ mental health will help to remove barriers or hinderances to learning and achievement. With the increased pressure schools already face regarding …

Critical Literacy Approaches To Teaching Canonical Texts: Analyzing Race In To Kill A Mockingbird In Rural, Predominately White Classrooms, Ashley Graegin, Margery Gardner

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

In the 21st century, U.S. legislation continues to push for teacher censorship and seemingly depoliticized curriculums that ignore systemic issues regarding race, gender, sexuality, and other social justice topics. With the understanding that texts can never be politically neutral, English language arts (ELA) teachers must adopt critical approaches to teach required, and often hegemonic texts, and help students cultivate criticality and critical race consciousness. In this study, we aim to explore strategies that can be used to promote critical readings of canonical texts and how the topic of racial oppression can be broached in rural, predominantly White secondary English classrooms. …

Letter From The Editors - Excelsior 17/2, Quinn Austermann, Joelle Fingerhut, Stephanie Purington

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.