Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

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.

Table Of Contents - Excelsior 17/2, Execlsior Journal

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

Message From The President - Excelsior 17/2, Rene S. Parmar

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Hands-On Learning Of Physical Agent Modalities In An Occupational Therapy Graduate Curriculum: A Pilot Study, Rachael Vance, Kaitlyn Kolk, Lauren Lesky, Jill Arends, Klaudia O'Malley

Masters Projects

Background: Physical agent modalities (PAMs) are used in preparation for or concurrently with occupational-based activities to facilitate a therapeutic response. It is valuable for OT practitioners to be confident and competent in the use of PAMs in healthcare settings. Nevertheless, there is a gap in proper education, creating a barrier to students' learning. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards have only enforced the education of PAMs in accredited programs since 2020. Purpose: This study aims to establish student’s satisfaction with their learning and confidence in using PAMs. It educates clinicians and academic instructors on the …

What Can The Active Learning Teacher Learn From Dramatic Arts Practice?, Strutts Psyridis

Staff Scholarship - Australia & Dubai

This presentation explores how active learning pedagogy can be informed by practices in the dramatic arts, particularly film editing and theatre direction. Drawing on an autobiographical lens, it argues that teaching and creative practice share a performative, interpretive, and collaborative structure. Concepts such as facilitative teaching, embodied cognition, intuition, and kinesthetic empathy are used to reframe the teacher as an active orchestrator rather than a passive facilitator. Through analysis of narrative construction, interpretive space, and audience engagement, the paper highlights parallels between editing and classroom practice. It proposes that effective teaching operates as a dynamic, multi-dimensional, and emotionally responsive creative …

Artificial Intelligence And Transformative Curricula Practices In Africa For Educational Development, Ibiwumi Abiodun Alade, P Mthetwa

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Industrial revolutions in the world have orchestrated numerous innovations, and the impact on educational landscape in different countries do not leave the society to remain static. However, with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the fourth era of industrial revolution, the structural shift and the effect it might significantly cause in transformative educational and curricula practices deserve attention. This paper therefore, explored “artificial intelligence and transformative curricula practices in Africa for educational development” In the paper, a review of the transformative era of the Four Industrial Revolutions (4IR) within which artificial intelligence emerges has been explored, Also, an …

Trustworthy Integration Of Ai In Online Learning: Supporting Student Agency And Inquiry Through Open Pedagogy, Paula Macdowell, Katrina Korchinski, Kristin Moskalyk, Khadijeh Ravan

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

Open pedagogy is a transformative educational approach that fosters innovative, inclusive, and sustainable instructional practices while addressing persistent challenges such as accessibility, equity, and the affordability of educational resources. This qualitative study explores how open pedagogy can develop AI literacy skills while supporting student agency and inquiry in online graduate education. The collaborative initiative involved two cohorts of graduate students (n = 39) who co-authored openly licensed textbooks: AI-Enhanced Instructional Design (ETAD 873, 2023) and Streamlined Instructional Design with AI (ETAD 873, 2024). A multi-phase data collection approach included analysis of student-authored chapters, structured peer review processes, and open-ended focus …

Co-Design Of A Program For Medical Students’ Experiential Learning In Community-Engaged Research, Daenique H. A. Jengelley, Tess D. Weathers, Dustin O. Lynch, Morgan E. Ness, Luis Garcia, Gina E. Claxton, J. Dennis Fortenberry, Tamara S. Hannon

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Medical education may lack experiential training on authentic community engagement (CE). Employing a human-centered design approach with medical faculty and students to identify goals, opportunities, needs, and barriers to implementing CE research, we developed an Experiential Community Engagement Learning Series (EXCELS) pilot program. EXCELS supported both our community partners and medical students as a platform from which to learn from each other. EXCELS can be accomplished virtually, incorporated in medical training, and disseminated broadly.

Enhancing Undergraduate Education Through Social Innovation Projects: The Experience Of A Young University In Singapore, Intan Azura Mokhtar, Yong Lim Foo

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

In this paper, social innovation is used as a catch-all phrase for projects and initiatives by higher education institutions (HEIs) related to community engagement, community-based learning, and service-learning. This paper explores the concept and application of social innovation in higher education, followed by a case study of implementing social innovation projects in a young, applied learning university in Singapore, a discussion of lessons learned, and plans for the near future in enhancing and strengthening its implementation.

The Civic Minded (Post) Graduate: Examining The Long-Range Benefits Of Community-Engaged Service Learning, Catherine Wilkins

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This project seeks to fill gaps in the knowledge about the long-term benefits of undergraduate participation in community-engaged service learning (CESL). A mixed-methods research protocol delivered to graduates of an R1 public university three years after the completion of a CESL senior capstone course observed significant divergences in knowledge and behavioral attributes of civic mindedness. This research methodology could be employed by other scholars to determine if these findings are reproducible.

First-Year Intersections: Professional Preparation And Civic Engagement Across Four New American Colleges And Universities (Nacu) Campuses, Shereen Ilahi, Chastity Blankenship, Andy Morris, Jeffrey Thomas

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Four institutions hypothesized that civic engagement in first-year courses reinforces career readiness by helping students think critically, communicate effectively, and work well with diversity. We measured teamwork skills, the ability to synthesize and apply different perspectives, and the ability to express, listen to, and adapt ideas based on the perspective of others. We compared self-assessments to direct assessment of student-created artifacts and found a positive correlation that encourages further enquiry.

Feasibility Of A Peer-Facilitated Video-Based Mental Health And Substance Use Service-Learning Program, Mara Carmina A. Tamayo, King Filart, Maria Regina Hechanova

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This study examined the feasibility of implementing a peer-facilitated mental health and substance use video-based program delivered by psychology students as part of service learning. The program was delivered on-site and online. Findings reveal improvements in knowledge, attitudes, refusal self-efficacy, and adaptive coping among on-site participants. However, there was no effect on online participants given many implementation challenges. Recommendations include delivering the program on-site, strengthening training for facilitators, increasing program duration, and shortening the videos.

The State Of The Field On Popular Culture Themed (Pct) Courses: Introducing The Journal Of Thematic Instruction, Kathy R. Doody Ph.D., Pamela Schuetze Ph.D., Jill M. Swirsky Ph.D.

Journal of Thematic Instruction

As universities adapt to meet evolving student needs, popular culture themed (PCT) courses have emerged as an innovative approach that integrates media with academic theory to foster engagement, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary connections. PCTs use popular culture themes that are not directly related to the course content to teach the course content. Despite their growing use across diverse disciplines, from STEM to the humanities, there is a lack of cohesive understanding, consistent terminology, and empirical research on the impacts of PCT courses in higher education.

This paper reviews existing literature on PCT courses organized by discipline, highlighting representative pedagogical strategies, …

Service Learning As A Mode To Deliver Course Learning Outcomes In A Research-Based Exercise Science College Course, Jennifer Lape Kaiser, Madison Skaggs

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

The following case study presents an approach to teaching research courses in undergraduate exercise science programs. Research courses are commonly required in the curriculum for this degree. Service learning (SL) is an effective way to promote student learning outcomes (SLOs) by providing hands-on experience for the students, and should be considered in exercise science research courses. Quantitative and qualitative survey results from students over two semesters of SL in an exercise science course are presented.

Incorporating Community-Engaged Pedagogy In Online Classes: Benefits, Challenges, And Strong Practices, Emmy Price, Margaret Thomas-Evans

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Community-engagement in virtual classrooms comes with unique benefits and challenges. Between 2018-2021, technical writing e-service-learning students from Indiana University East (Richmond, Indiana) raised a total of $149,239 through grant writing projects. This e-servicelearning project gave students real-world experiences and opportunity to connect with local organizations, prompting one student to choose grant writing as a career. Many students were able to successfully obtain funding for their chosen nonprofits, giving students a sense of social responsibility.

Social-Emotional Learning In A Week-Long Theatre Camp For Youth, Emily E. Virtue, Lisa C. Mann, Hannah Diener

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

Understanding how social-emotional learning develops in middle level education is important for educators and parents as they work to guide youth toward healthy relationships and responsible citizenship. Many studies demonstrate that students who participate in theatre have shown greater emotional health and more capacity to move through conflict positively. This study asks if social-emotional learning through theatre education can still happen outside of a formal educational setting. This study is a mixed methods investigation of a week-long theatre camp in the summer for upper elementary and middle school youth. Four aspects of social emotional learning were studied: task articulation, self-regulation, …

Building Community With Middle Level Preservice Teachers, Carolyn A. Weber

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This paper addresses how community building can be implemented in a class for preservice middle level teachers. The preservice teachers connected community building to their success in the course and reported ways they could build community in their future classrooms.

"It Makes It More Real.”: Teacher Candidate Perceptions Of A Clinically-Rich Middle Grades Teacher Preparation Program, Shawn A. Faulkner, Michael Dicicco

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

The persistent divide between theory and practice in teacher education has long been a subject of concern among researchers and scholars (Darling-Hammond, 2006; Zeichner, 2010). This paper explores teacher candidate perceptions of a clinically-rich (NASUP, 2021) middle grades teacher preparation program that has worked to create a “third space” (Zeichner, 2010) through a school-university partnership with a local middle school. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teacher candidates (n=23) at the time of program completion. Findings suggest teacher candidates felt prepared and valued clinically-based activities and experiences. Teacher candidates suggest future improvements to the program should include more experiences tied to …

From Observation To Ethical Inquiry: Course Redesign In Middle Level Educator Preparation, Sarah Straub, Elizabeth Gound

Current Issues in Middle Level Education

This manuscript explores the transformative impact of ethical engagement in the course MLGE 3301: Adolescent Learning, designed for pre-field students in an educator preparation program. Focused on middle-grade education and special education, this course incorporates a significant service learning component, with undergraduate students spending 10 service hours in middle school classrooms and conducting interviews with middle school students. The purpose of the interviews is to enable pre-field students to engage with middle school students and use the insights gained to reflect on the alignment between their coursework in adolescent learning theory and real-world experiences. Two professors leading the course recognized …

Establishing An Evaluative Mechanism For Cura Personalis, Jarrod Stadnyk

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Cura personalis is an important characteristic of Jesuit education. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. helped to focus attention on the importance of cura personalis in Jesuit education. However, rather than simply being individual care for the whole person, cura personalis is an illusive concept that is easier to recite than apply in practice. This article proposes an evaluative mechanism that can be used to gauge a person’s or organization’s depth in providing cura personalis for higher education students. The Higher Education Cura Personalis Reflection Chart within this article is a new mechanism that can help guide the process of determining what …

Ua64/2 The Challenge: Magazine For The Center For Gifted Studies (No. 58 Summer 2025), Elizabeth Joyce Editor

Gifted Studies Publications

Magazine created by and about the WKU Center for Gifted Studies.

Ucf Pegasus Plan - 2nd Grade - Symbol Explorers: Discovering Us And Florida Symbols, Jessica L. Elliott, Hailey Smith, Therissa Leo, Julia Cecelia, Fredrieka Clemons

Pegasus Plans: Social Studies Unit Plans for Florida Teachers

During this unit, students will identify essential American and Florida symbols and the symbolic meaning behind what they represent through hands on experiences, visual lectures, and exploratory projects. The students will participate in whole group and small group discussions along with actively engage in several comprehensive opportunities.

The Impact Of Using : Infographic Technique Based On Marzano’S Dimensions Of Learning Model On Developing Moral Self In Islamic Education In Relation To Academic Achievement, Mohammed Abdul Karim Al-Ayasrah, Karima Abdullah Mohammed Al-Saadi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

This study investigated the impact of using : infographic technique based on Marzano’s Dimensions of Learning Model on developing moral self in tenth-grade female students in Islamic education considering their academic achievement. The study used the quasi-experimental approach. The study population consisted of all tenth grade female students in North Al Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman, numbering (4781) students; while the number of study sample members was (273) female students from the tenth grade in North Al Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman for the academic year (2022/2023). The results showed that there was a statistically significant …

Social-Emotional Competence As A Mediating Variable In The Relationship Between Spiritual Coping And Occupational Hardiness Among Paramedics In The Emergency Centers Of The Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Rihab Aref Alsadi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to investigate the effect of social-emotional competence as a mediating variable in the relationship between spiritual coping and occupational hardiness among paramedics in emergency centers of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. It also sought to determine the levels of social-emotional competence, spiritual coping, and occupational hardiness among them. The study was conducted on (120) paramedics, both male and female, in the northern governorates of Palestine, selected through a simple random sampling method. The study found that social-emotional competence as a mediating variable has an effect on the relationship between spiritual coping and occupational hardiness. The results also …

The Impact Of A Psychological Immunity-Based Program On Enhancing Emotional Competence And Gratitude Among Gifted Students With Learning Difficulties, Waleed Fathi Abdul Karim Abdulkader, Naglaa Ibrahim Abu Al-Wafa

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

The study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a training program based on the dimensions of the Psychological Immune System (PIS) model in enhancing emotional competence and gratitude among gifted female students with learning difficulties. The study adopted the experimental approach (quasi-experimental design) using two groups (experimental and control) with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements The sample consisted of 124 students, of whom 14 were divided into two equal groups (7 students in each group) based on specific criteria, including the mental abilities test, a list of creative activities, and a scale of characteristics of gifted students with learning difficulties. …

A Qualitative Study Utilizing The Design Thinking Process To Structure And Organize For Small Group Reading Instruction In Third, Fourth, And Fifth Grade, Ashlee Utt

Dissertations

Having educated and knowledgeable classroom teachers in reading instruction is a key tool in changing the dynamics of the struggling readers in schools. Being able to lead reading instruction in both whole and small group ensures students are able to learn and build reading strategies and skills to be implemented during whole group and independent time, where text is utilized with grade-level expectations. Utilizing explicit small group instruction can have a positive effect on student achievement and success. Research has shown that “guided reading makes it possible for students to effectively process an appropriate text every day, expanding their reading …

The Digital Forum: A Pedagogical Approach To Teaching College English Composition, Thomas Edward Plichta

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study focused on the identification of ways to improve the curriculum of freshman Writing Intensive Seminars using an innovative multimodal pedagogical methodology, the Digital Forum, in addition to formal papers and in-class writing. The research examined a Writing Intensive Seminar with approximately 20 students; There were two Research Questions for the present study. RQ1: How does the incorporation of the Digital Forum as a pedagogical approach in college freshman writing classes influence students' levels of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement? RQ2: How does the incorporation of Digital Forums in freshman English Composition courses affect the quality of …

The Effectiveness Of University Administration In Performing The Function Of Community Service: Enhancing Lifelong Learning Opportunities As A Model In The Saudi Context, Abdullah Dhaifallah Alharthi

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies

we would like to inform you that the current study aimed to determine the degree of effectiveness of university administration in performing its function in serving the community in order to improve lifelong learning opportunities in the dimensions of availability and diversity. the thesis also aimed to determine effectiveness, access and dissemination, and the researcher used the descriptive approach, relying on the questionnaire as a tool to collect data that he collected according to the facilitated sample, which numbered (2048) individuals from the saudi community in the first semester of the academic year 2024. the study extracted a number of …