Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Project-Based Learning To Promote Reading And Writing Skills And Student Engagement In Fourth Graders, Anne E. Eichhorn

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project was to incorporate project-based learning (PBL) into instruction alongside of a teacher directed curriculum while promoting literacy skills and social studies content. The literature review discusses what PBL is, its history, various frameworks, and benefits and challenges. The frameworks focused on in this project include the Buck Institute for Education’s (n.d.) Gold Standard PBL, High Quality Project Based Learning’s (2018) A Framework for High Quality Project Based Learning (HQPBL Framework), Duke’s structure (2014) along with Battelle for Kids (2024) twenty-first century skills. A new framework was developed to create a PBL curriculum alongside the scripted …

Impact Of Professional Development On Teacher Perceptions Of Culturally And Ethnically Diverse Students, Stephanie Kirk Mcmillan

Curriculum and Instruction (Ed.D.) Dissertations

Deficit thinking is when we view another as having less potential based on preconceived notions defined by our backgrounds and, oftentimes, society. A predominantly White teaching force is encountering more cultural and ethnic diversity in their classrooms than ever before. Professional development for teachers is historically beneficial and promotes change in teaching and pedagogy. This study utilized a mixed-methods methodology that examined the effects of professional development on teachers’ knowledge and skills as they pertained to culturally responsive teaching. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used to test the study's questions. This study surveyed teachers before and after a professional development …

An Inquiry-Based Interdisciplinary Social Studies Unit On Libraries Around The World In A Second-Grade Classroom: A Curriculum Development, Emma G. Weinman

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

This project explores inquiry-based learning and project-based learning. My specific interest in interdisciplinary, inquiry-based instruction stemmed from professional development received, and from an overarching initiative to move towards this type of instruction within the school building that I work. The curriculum developed provides a two-week lesson sequence that can be implemented within a second-grade classroom. The lesson sequence is inquiry-based, and provides opportunities for students to communicate, collaborate, create, and think critically throughout the learning process. This curriculum is interdisciplinary in nature and is designed to meet second-grade Ohio social studies standards, as well as standards in other areas. The …

The Multilingual Book Club Model: Engaging Multilingual Learners In Bilingual (Spanish-English) Graphic Novel Book Clubs To Acquire Language And Vocabulary, Maureen L. Flanagan

Masters Theses/Capstone Projects

This project explores the importance of using translanguaging to support multilingual learners in predominantly English speaking classrooms. The main intent is to provide an engaging curriculum that provides culturally responsive material for multilingual students whose home language is Spanish. The project explores seminal research in second language acquisition and the importance of vocabulary instruction. It also acknowledges the importance of the Book Club Model

Disciplinary Literacy In Preschool Classrooms, Mckenna Beam

Graduate Teacher Education

The research questioned the potential impact disciplinary literacy may have on academic growth in early childhood classrooms and considered how preschool teachers can implement developmentally appropriate practices focusing on disciplinary literacy to support academic readiness skills. Schools emphasize a need for early intervention in the math and literacy domains to combat the academic achievement gap, but Chapin (2006) recognized a need for early intervention in the science and social studies domains as well. With this knowledge in mind, specific developmentally appropriate methods for integrating science, social studies, music, and art instruction in preschool classrooms were highlighted. Systemic methods of implementing …

High School Students Experiences With Competency-Based Education: A Study In Student-Centered Learning, Sarah Stout

Doctorate in Education

In this dissertation, I examined how high school students experienced the phenomenon of competency-based education (CBE) and how that impacted their overall view of high school educational systems. Rooted in personalized learning, CBE focuses on mastery of learning versus time spent, performance-based assessments, and rigorous competencies made up of educational standards. While most notably utilized in higher education and trade schools, CBE is making its way in public school systems in the U.S. Current literature looks at the adult perspective of CBE, but the student perspective is missing. This study was guided by a conceptual framework that first acknowledges education …

Room 1: Digital Accessibility And Oers: How, Why, And When, Stewart C. Baker

Open Educational Resources Symposium

This short talk will cover the basics of digital accessibility and why it's essential to creating effective OERs. Digital accessibility is the practice of designing digital content that can be used by people with disabilities. But it shouldn't just be an afterthought or an "if I have time!" By building accessibility into your creation process from the start, you can make your OER much more effective and easier to use for as many people as possible—including those without disabilities at all. By the end of this session, you will be able to describe core digital accessibility principles, articulate how they …

From The Editors, Michele J. Koomen, Thomastine Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

JSESD remains a venue for the dissemination of research and practice related to the education of students with disabilities in the science classroom and laboratory since 1998. Volumes #1 through 11 were published in a print format. Starting with Volume #12, the journal has been published online and Open Access. Having JSESD in the Open Access format maximizes access for readers and authors and allows the journal to remain economically sustainable.

Copyright, Michele J. Koomen, Thomastine Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence In Higher Education: A Case Study Of Faculty Teaching Methodologies At A Private University, Ellen Ramsey, George Antoniou, Matteo Peroni, Karima Lanfranco, Brent Muckridge, Raouf Ghattas, Philip L. Fazio, Wendy Wallberg, Saidi Porta, Mary Smith, Gary Solomon, Kristen Migliano, David G. Wolf

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This research study examined the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education from the perspective of the faculty of a private university. It inquired into the impact of AI on pedagogical methods, administrative procedures, and ethical values. Qualitative case study methodology and in-depth semi-structured interviews were designed and conducted with faculty from four academic departments. Responses related to impressions, challenges, and opportunities for AI integration were gathered. The study findings from qualitative and quantitative data analysis indicated that AI is perceived to help improve educational outcomes with student-personalized learning pathways through streamlined administrative processes. The study revealed that participating …

Representation Of Autism Spectrum Disorders In Realistic Fiction For Children And Young Adults Over The Past 20 Years, Jane E. Kelley, Yun-Ju Hsiao, Brenda L. Barrio, Teresa A. Cardon, Madeline G. Joyce

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In our study, we analyzed 147 contemporary realistic fiction children’s and young adult books that feature characters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We compared these representations with current statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For each book, we examined the character demographics, the main character, the author’s background, and representation prevalence. Our findings revealed a significant increase in the portrayal of characters with ASD over the past decade. There has also been a rise in the number of characters with ASD serving as the main protagonists in stories. We delved into the implications of gender, race, and …

Leveraging Ownership To Prosper From Failure, Rodney G. Thomas

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of the phenomenon of leveraging ownership to prosper from a failure experience through the lenses of principals who have experienced a situation where they failed. Research questions included the perception of the determining aspects, how ownership manifested as a coping method, the belief in leveraging ownership to improve outcomes, and what principals can learn about themselves when finding success after failing. Principals matching the criteria of working in Indiana and Michigan and having a failure experience were chosen for this research study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the principals …

Fostering Creativity Through A Signature Creative Writing Pedagogy, Ryan Stone

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study offers a historical and conceptual lens to guide the proposed research. A historical account of creative writing in higher education and its relationship to progressive education and creative education is offered. The conceptual framework involves the development of the creative person through the primary pedagogical method within creative writing: the workshop. The research involves a qualitative phenomenological study. Methods utilized include coded observations and interviews.

Exploring The Efficacy Of The Comprehensive Institutional Model (Cim) In A Post-Covid-19 Hyflex Higher Education Environment: An Instrumental Case, Pamela Mccray

Theses & Dissertations

This instrumental case study examined the efficacy of the comprehensive institutional model, a pre-existing conceptual framework addressing the challenges of HyFlex teaching and learning in the post-COVID-19 environment at one private university in South Texas. The model was constructed using longitudinal data from a two-year pilot study (2021-2023) and focused on improving teaching effectiveness, investing in instructional technology and infrastructure, supporting graduate students’ academic needs, and executing institutional sustainability actions across three stakeholder groups: administrators, faculty, and graduate students. The study also addressed key gaps in the literature, including the lack of tested HyFlex models in real-world settings. A qualitative, …

Elementary Writing Intervention Implementation Status, Thomas John Petré Wills

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of focus, U.S. students' writing abilities remain below grade-level expectations, highlighting persistent gaps in instructional support and systemic challenges within public education. Barriers include limited instructional time, inadequate teacher preparation in evidence-based writing practices, insufficient resources, and a lack of structured interventions for struggling writers (Applebee & Langer, 2011; National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2012). This study employed survey methodology to examine how teacher self-efficacy, classroom supports, and systems-level factors such as response to intervention (RTI) practices influence the implementation of evidence-based writing instruction in grades two through four. A national sample of elementary school teachers completed …

The Impact Of Graphic Organizers On Argumentative Writing For Ell Students, Ashley Van Beek

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research project explored the effect that graphic organizers had on argumentative essays written by English Language Learners (ELLs) in a secondary English class. The research participants were nine Junior and Senior ELLs with varying levels of English proficiency. Students wrote a pre-assessment argumentative essay without a graphic organizer, and then later wrote a summative argumentative essay with the help of a graphic organizer designed by the researcher. The researcher compared their pre-assessment scores to the summative assessment scores, which showed both a neutral and positive correlation between using a graphic organizer and improving in score. Findings of the …

Changes In Classroom Environment And Its Impact On Student Learning Behaviors, Adam A. Gaines

Master of Education Program Theses

This action research study investigated the impact of playing background music on the time-on-task behavior of students in a high school American Studies class. The research participants were thirteen high school students attending a small K-12 private school in the Pacific Northwest during the 2024-2025 school year. During the first phase of the study, students engaged in working on homework tasks during in-class worktime without any music playing in the classroom. During the second phase, students worked with music playing in the background. This study used an interrupted time-series design to record the percentage of time-on-task for each day of …

Effect Of The Sequencing Of Instruction On Students’ Perceptions Of Engagement And Learning, Ingrid Etherton

Master of Education Program Theses

Inquiry-based learning has become a hallmark of science education, in part through the introduction of the Next Generation Science Standards. Research has shown inquiry and direct instruction are effective and essential components of student learning; however, effective implementation of these strategies requires intentional sequencing and understanding of student cognition and motivation. This action research project sought to investigate the relationship between the sequence of inquiry and direct instruction and students’ perceptions of their learning through inquiry. The results of this study indicate that inquiry activities are effective for student learning and interest in the content; however, further research is needed …

Re-Analysis Of The Anthropogenic Effect Of The Covid-19 Global Lockdown On Night-Time Lunar Surface Temperatures, W. Schonberg, S. Haque

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A study by Durga Prasad and Ambily observed an anomalous decrease in the lunar surface temperatures during the period April–May 2020, which they then attributed to the anthropogenic effects of the COVID-19 global lockdown effect. We have re-examined their data and while the anomalous decrease in the lunar surface temperature during April–May 2020 appears in our analysis as well, so does another significant dip in early 2018. Furthermore, the decline to the minimum observed during April–May 2020 is seen to begin in 2019, that is, quite some time before the COVID-19 event that led to the global lockdown and the …

Israeli Educational Policy Procedures On The Book “Geography Of Palestine And Its Modern And Contemporary History” For The Tenth Grade, Mirvat R. Abu Asab, Soheil H. Salha

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: The study aimed to verify the procedures of the Israeli educational policy on the book “Geography of Palestine and its Modern and Contemporary History” for the tenth grade. Method: The descriptive analytical approach was used by analyzing and comparing the content of “The Geography of Palestine and its Modern and Contemporary History” for the tenth grade, first and second parts, issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Education, with the content of the same one that the Israeli censorship in the Ministry of Education and the Jerusalem Municipality changed it, and determined the size and quality of the change. Results: …

The Digital Incorporated Worker Narrative: A Mixed Methods Study Of Digital Capital, Work Selection, And Outcomes In The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Tracie King

Dissertations

Digital technology permeates society and industry, making digital-ready workers necessary for firms of all sizes as a firm seeks competitiveness in the market (Bergson-Shilcock et al., 2023; de Ruyter et al., 2018; Gorski et al., 2022; Karaboğa, 2023; Kim et al., 2017; Qureshi Zia, 2019). Firms seeking digital-ready workers face a complex digital divide that creates a worker shortage (Bergson-Shilcock et al., 2023; Karaboğa, 2023; Qureshi Zia, 2019). This study aims to describe workers' work selection, work experience, and outcomes in a complex digital society.

Most digital divide research focuses on the individuals excluded from owning, accessing, and having skills …

Elevating Educators: The Role Of Sponsorship In Fostering Teacher Engagement, Recognition, And Retention, Justin Mitchell

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Teacher burnout and attrition have become pressing concerns in education, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The demands on educators have increased, yet systemic supports have often remained stagnant, leading to disengagement and decreased participation in extracurricular activities. This study examined the role of teacher sponsorship of extracurricular activities in fostering teacher engagement, recognition, and retention within a rural Title I middle school. Using an improvement science framework, this research explored how teachers’ involvement in extracurricular activities impacts their connection to the school community and whether targeted interventions such as professional learning communities and recognition initiatives can enhance teacher participation and …

Effective Best Practices In Social Studies Education: Empowering Students Despite Institutional Barriers, Shelbie A. Merriweather

Curriculum and Instruction Undergraduate Honors Theses

Social Studies has remained a prevalent feature of the curriculum taught in the United States education system since the start of the 20th century as society became concerned with teaching children to be active citizens in their communities, and has evolved to integrate the development of critical and historical thinking skills that will enable students to analyze historical events and figures to generate a historical narrative (Coleman, 2021; Smith et al., 1995). The lack of standardized tests centered around social studies has meant that legislation like No Child Left Behind limits the funding provided to social studies as opposed to …

All Clear For Virtual Simulation In Transition To Practice, Stephanie Barrett Msn, Rn, Onc, Rebecca Riznyk Msn, Rn, Cne, Npd-Bc

Posters

The goal of this innovative project was to increase new graduate nurses’ comfort with emergency management, improve communication with the interdisciplinary team, and provide a valuable and engaging experience in a TTPP at a large health care system

Editorial Review Board Vol. 64 Issue 1

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

No abstract provided.

Teacher Autonomy And Decision Making On Curricular Book Choices, Melanie D. Koss, Kathleen A. Paciga

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article reports findings from an email survey of 748 U.S. PreK–8 teachers. The survey invited teachers’ reflections on their autonomy in selecting children’s literature for classroom instruction and classroom libraries. In this descriptive study, researchers used frequency counts, cross-tabulations, and examination of text-based responses. Data were analyzed across three constructs of teacher autonomy: capacity, self-direction, and freedom. Findings show teachers feel well equipped to select quality literature, have more self-direction in literature used for read-alouds and inclusion in classroom libraries than for instruction, and report recent sociopolitical events in the United States have stifled their feelings of freedom. Internal …

From Disengaged To Flourishing: The Impact Of Authentic And Practical Professional Development On Teachers And Students, Julianne Scullen

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Building upon the ideas of social constructivists work in dialogic instruction (Bakhtin, 1981; Vygotsky, 1978) and self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1977), this study sought to answer: How does teacher participation in a book club impact teacher disposition to dialogic practices in the classroom? And how does teacher participation in a book club influence teacher efficacy regarding the implementation of dialogic practice? Using case study research based on semi-structured interviews, book club transcripts, and participant reflective journal entries, changes in disposition toward dialogism and efficacy in dialogic classroom practice were explored. The book club itself served as an intervention and provided teachers …

“Proving Our Worth”: Discourses Of Teacher Evaluation In Literacy Coaching, Carolyn S. Hunt, Deborah A. Macphee

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

There is increasing evidence that literacy coaching is an effective method for supporting teachers’ professional development. At the same time, teacher evaluation systems have intensified in response to reform initiatives, raising questions about what happens at the intersection of teacher evaluation and coaching. Despite the potential of coaching to promote deep reflection and professional growth, discourses of teacher evaluation can disrupt teacher-coach relationships if accountability is privileged over professional learning and coaches are positioned as experts who judge and report on teachers’ performance. The purpose of this study was to explore how dominant discourses of teacher evaluation influenced the professional …

Differentiated Instruction For Students With Special Needs: “How Can We Better Equip Students, School Systems, And Society For Differentiated Instruction For Students With Special Needs In Career And Technical Educational Environments?”, Mikala A. Highsmith

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Career and Technical Education (CTE) plays a vital role in preparing students for the demands of the modern workforce by providing essential knowledge, technical skills, and industry-recognized certifications. As the number of students with disabilities, including neurodivergent learners, continues to rise, CTE programs face increasing pressure to adopt innovative, inclusive educational practices. Integrating creative teaching strategies and leveraging technology are now critical tools in addressing diverse learning needs that promote effective classroom management and enhance student engagement. Moreover, CTE programs emphasize the development of professional competencies, workforce protocols, and transferable skills that strengthen students’ employability across industries. This paper examines …

"I Never Really Saw Anybody That Looked Like Me In A Book": A Positioning Theory Analysis Of Preservice Teachers' Critical Reflections., Melissa Lee Zipper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand how preservice teachers develop their criticality within a semester long undergraduate course focused on children’s literature. This study addresses a well-documented practical knowledge gap in education research: although preservice teachers claim to understand the importance of a culturally relevant and sustaining curriculum, they do not know how to effectuate that curriculum when it comes to their future classrooms. Using Positioning Theory as a theoretical lens and an analytical tool, the study explores how preservice teachers position themselves in relation to developing their criticality through participation in a course curriculum purposefully …