Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Thriving In An Ai-Dominated World: Why Higher Education Must Produce Graduates Who Are Uniquely Human And Technically Competent, Chris Mayer

International Journal of Emerging and Disruptive Innovation in Education : VISIONARIUM

To meet the demands of students and broader society, and to prepare students for a world that is increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence (AI) and other forms of technology, many higher education institutions (HEI) are cutting liberal arts programs and focusing on professional fields and fields related to technology. This focus, however, is undermining students’ employability and not addressing employer demand for applicants who possess the human skills that students develop by studying the liberal arts. This does not mean that technology-related skills should be neglected as employers are also signaling the importance of AI-related skills, and digital skills more …

Visual Images As A Gateway To Scholarly Inquiry In Information Literacy Instruction, Carolyn White Gamtso, Susanne F. Paterson

Faculty Publications

In this interactive session, participants will engage in activities that use student-generated questions about visual images as entry points to research literary criticism of Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. The presenters collaborated on a student-centered, inquiry-based information literacy lesson (IL) focused on visual literacy, critical thinking, and research question design in an introductory literary analysis course. The co-instructors decentralized the classroom by empowering students to ask probing questions about illustrations from an early 20th-Century edition of Hamlet. Workshop participants will experience the presenters’ lesson firsthand by using the Right Question Institute’s Question Formulation Technique (QFT) as a springboard to research question development, …

Things I'Ve Learned From Doing Cosplay: An Investigation On Incorporating “Atypical” Creative Practices Into Art Education, Yvonne Liang

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the pedagogical value of cosplay through a focused case study and autoethnography, highlighting its influence on identity formation and community engagement among youth. The autoethnographic component provides a personal perspective, enriching the empirical data collected from participants in a cosplay workshop. The case study delves into how cosplay encourages skill development, creativity, and emotional resilience, facilitating a supportive and dynamic learning environment for young adults. Insights from this research demonstrate the significant benefits of integrating cosplay into art education, suggesting it can greatly enhance student engagement and promote diverse educational experiences. This study contributes to the understanding …

Growing Together: Cultivating The Social-Emotional Effects Of Art Education Through Trauma-Informed Pedagogy, Kaitlyn Lawrence

Masters Theses

In many societies, the process of art is recognized as a healing and transformative practice. In recent years, it has been emerging in tandem with social emotional practices and procedures in American education. However, it is also a fact that social emotional learning (SEL) does not account for all students due to its inability to account for the needs of all students in the classroom. SEL alone aims to teach healthy development and emotional management skills, but fails to account for students with varying experiences. While there are those who can and do integrate the skills from the Social Emotional …

Code-Switching In The Second Language Classroom: A Narrative Study Of A Saudi English Language Teacher’S Experience, Amal Alnefaie, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This narrative study explores the use of code-switching in the second-language classroom from the perspective of a Saudi English language instructor. The aim was to explore how the instructor experienced code-switching as a student and used it in her teaching. The main research question guiding the study was: How does a Saudi English language teacher perceive and utilize code-switching in her teaching practice, and how does this relate to her experiences as a language learner? The study holds significance in contributing to the ongoing discourse on code-switching in second-language classrooms, providing a nuanced understanding from the perspective of an individual …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Instructional Modality And Pedagogy Licensure Exam Scores In Post-Baccalaureate Educator Preparation Programs In Indiana, Kelly Eckel

Dissertations

The efficacy of the modality of instruction employed in higher education institutions has been a point of contention among students, faculty, administration, and other stakeholders in the educational realm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online and hybrid instruction has become a valued and desirable option for Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) to offer for recruitment and retention purposes. The effectiveness of varying modalities in relation to teacher licensure exams has been limited in research and can serve as a critical quantitative measure for EPPs to assess. This longitudinal study examined the relationship between instructional modality and pedagogy teacher licensure exam scores in …

Earning Engagement As A Graduate Student Instructor, Matthew Sloss

Architectural Engineering

One of the key benefits of a Cal Poly education is access to experienced instructors in a small classroom setting. In my final quarter at Cal Poly, I had the opportunity to glance behind the curtain and fill the significant shoes of an instructor of an introductory structural statics class. What initially was a chance to lend a hand to the department by sharing my limited experience turned into a thorough exploration of what it means to be productively engaging and of how to utilize the underrealized power of asking questions in the classroom setting. This report documents my experiences …

Expanding Learn By Doing: Creating A Culture Of Extracurricular Lab Work In The Graphic Communication Department, Miriam Gabai, Isis Dominguez

Graphic Communication

The existing Graphic Communication (GrC) curriculum immerses students in print production through hands-on labs, exposing them to a variety of industrial machinery.

However, outside the context of required labs, students will rarely use the department’s equipment, which is a lost learning opportunity.

This project proposes exploring opportunities for students to use machinery outside the context of required classes, in order to both foster familiarity with industry tools and generate new industry knowledge. The aim is to research and develop a plan for implementing a program that helps to encourage students to further develop skills and pursue research projects using department …

The Impact Of Grade-Level Switching In The Elementary School Setting, Christine Priester

Dissertations

Teaching a new grade level in elementary school requires developing extensive grade- level-specific knowledge. In many school districts, the support for teachers who move grade levels within a district is glaringly absent. In this study, the frequency and impact of teacher grade switching in a school district were examined through a mixed-methods study that included surveys with teachers, interviews with teachers, and student data. The research question was: What is the impact of grade-level teacher movement on instruction? The findings of this study show how students are affected by teachers switching grade levels in elementary school. Results shed light on …

Exploring Secondary Teachers' Digital Curricular Autobiographies As A Path Towards Digital Equity: A Currere Journey, Douglas S. Vandyke

Dissertations

Combining a narrative approach with portraiture and theoretically framed by reconceptualism and critical digital pedagogy, this study explores participants’ beliefs about and experiences using information and communication technologies (ICT) for learning. It also explores participants’ understanding of digital learning as essential to educational equity in a postdigital society. Participants were secondary teachers serving socio-economically marginalized Black and Latinx students across four public high schools in Chicago. Through a series of semi-structured interviews each constructed a version of their digital curricular autobiography (currere). Through this reflection, participants recalled their own experiences being excluded from learning which contributed to their …

Poetry In Teaching & Learning Qualitative Research, Amber Mullens, Audra Skukauskaite, Megan K. Mitchell

The Qualitative Report

This article stems from a workshop presented at the 15th TQR conference on poetry in teaching and learning qualitative research. Over the last few decades, scholars have argued for the use of poetry and other arts-based techniques in qualitative research. Most of the research, however, focuses on using poetry for data analysis and representation. In this article, we shift the conversation to the use of poetry for teaching and learning qualitative research. Starting with a poem in three voices of educator, student, and researcher, we provide an overview of poetry use in qualitative inquiry. We then offer brief overviews of …

Exploring English Language Teachers’ Selfefficacy Beliefs In Relation To Teaching Gifted Students, Shatha Mohammed Sobih

Theses

This study investigates the beliefs of English language teachers regarding their ability to identify and teach gifted students, focusing on how they perceive their own skills in teaching primary grade level students (grades 1, 2, and 3) with exceptional intellectual abilities in English language education. The study followed a qualitative research design and collected data using an open-ended survey consisting of questions that encouraged participants to provide detailed and unrestricted responses. This study also performed purposeful sampling to select respondents with the necessary knowledge and experience to offer rich and meaningful data. This study targeted English language teachers (n …

Technology-Enhanced Mathematics Teaching And Learning: Teachers’ Perspectives On Digital And Generative Ai–Enabled Tool Integration Through A Tpack Lens In Abu Dhabi Schools, Abdalrahman A. Adlouni

Theses

Digital learning is an active approach to education in daily life, and it has been implemented in all the schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Many strategies, such as platforms, online educational websites, and other applications, were used by teachers to support blended learning and assist students in achieving their goals and accomplishing what is required from their curriculum. The main objective of this study is to examine teachers’ perceptions toward teaching mathematics using digital learning tools in Cycle 2 and Cycle 3. Data was collected from (n=114) mathematics teachers in Abu Dhabi City, UAE, during the spring semester …

The Differences Between Metacognitive Reading Strategies Used By Native Arabic Speakers In The Uae When Reading Digital Versus Printed Materials, Razan Majed Shehadeh

Theses

This study explores the differences between the metacognitive reading strategies that native Arabic speakers college students use in the UAE when reading digital vs. printed texts. A convergent Mixed-Methods Design was employed to achieve the purpose of this study. The first data comprised a background questionnaire and two metacognitive reading surveys reflecting reading from digital materials that were conducted with college students (n=100), and the second data set comprised semi-structured interviews with a subset of students sampled from the original pool (n= 8). This study's participants were college students selected randomly from some of the UAE universities. Generally, the results …

Can Leadership Classes Help Women In Construction Embrace Vulnerability Early In Their Careers?, Crystal Giselle Martinez

Construction Management

This study investigates how a vulnerability lesson, integrated into a construction management university course, impacts women’s comfort levels in showing vulnerability in their early careers. It also examines the perceptions of individuals on the subject of vulnerability prior to taking the class expressing societal norms in relation to vulnerability and leadership in relation to vulnerability. Pre- and post-surveys, utilizing the Likert scale and free responses, were used to gather data from students enrolled in a leadership-focused class at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Findings reveal that while vulnerability is seen as vital for leadership, gender challenges persist, shaped …

The Role Of Language Ideologies In Curriculum Design: Possibilities In Computational And Digital Literacies Integration In Teacher Education, Jessica Velez Tello

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Literacy and language are linked in its usage, perception, and practice. As new forms of engaging with literacy are explored, digital practices and tools are being employed as useful supports for students and their language practices (García et al., 2017). As emerging technologies are further introduced in educational spaces, education programs have a role in shaping how computational and digital literacies (CDLs) are integrated and how teacher candidates and teachers learn about them, especially those who are being trained to become bilingual teachers or will inevitably work with emergent bilinguals and linguistically diverse learners^[1], as the intersections between …

Exploring Emirati High School Students' Attitude Towards Reading In L2 (English), Seba Dabik

Theses

Reading in a second language (L2) is a crucial skill for high school students as it helps to develop their second language proficiency and broadens their understanding of the world. It also holds substantial significance in both their personal and academic endeavors. Additionally, proficient L2 reading skills pave the way for promising prospects and professional opportunities. This study examines students' attitudes towards reading academically and recreationally in L2 and the factors that contribute to these attitudes. The study sample comprised of 20 grade 11 UAE national male students (16-17 years old) enrolled in a public Applied Technology School (ATS) in …

What Exactly Does Identity Have To Do With Teaching? Exploring The Connection Between A Teacher's Racialized Identity And Their Teacher Identity, Lizette Aguilar

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study explores the relationship between race and teacher identity, specifically understanding how the two concepts intersect and (re)present themselves within the classroom environment. This study analyzes six teachers’ narratives of identity, race, and teaching to explore themes of race and identity as they traverse from their earliest experiences with race into their experiences as teachers. Findings conclude that, first, teachers’ narrative identities are a composite of key narratives—important moments of deep impact in the process of identity building—that accumulate over time to form what Dan McAdams (1993) calls personal myths. Since key narratives are continually shaping one’s personal myth, …

Investigating Attitudes, Perceptions, And Challenges Of Moroccan Efl Teachers' Incorporation Of Critical Thinking In Argumentative Writing Instructions, Abdelmomen Khalil, Nadia Hellalet

Journal of English and Applied Linguistics

This study aimed at finding out Moroccan English as a foreign language (EFL) high school teachers’ attitudes towards incorporating critical thinking skills (CTS) in their teaching practices and in argumentative writing in particular, how they facilitate CTS, and what challenges they experience when incorporating CTS. To fulfill the research objectives and collect both quantitative and qualitative data, a mixed-methods approach was adopted using questionnaires and interviews. The researchers collected data from 127 EFL teachers from different Moroccan high schools. The findings revealed that the teachers hold positive attitudes toward critical thinking (CT) and integrating it in their argumentative writing instructions. …

Using A Historical Approach To Teach Social Justice: A Classroom Model, Mary L. Troy, Timothy Powers, Emily Lee Chong

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

Social Justice epitomizes the Ignatian ideal of “men and women for others”. Utilizing Ignatian pedagogy, faculty at Jesuit colleges and universities can help students explore and understand the link between historical events and current social justice issues. This article demonstrates and applies a six-step model of utilizing history as a tool for social justice. The model can be adapted for any field of study at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

El Eslabón Perdido De La Pedagogía Jesuita, Alberto Núñez, Josep M. Lozano

Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal

La pedagogía jesuita ha experimentado una renovación importante en los últimos cincuenta años. En este periodo, se han elaborado diversas formulaciones inspiradoras de su visión educativa. A pesar de mantener un lenguaje y espiritualidad comunes, reconocibles a lo largo de los años, existe el riesgo de que sólo sea vivida por una minoría de personas en las instituciones educativas. Este artículo propone una relectura de la Ratio Studiorum (RS) que ofrece una comprensión más precisa y completa de la pedagogía jesuita. Esta incluye tres elementos clave: el gobierno y administración de la institución, el enfoque en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje …

Teaching Secondary Students To Think For Themselves: Creating A Critical Thinking Classroom Culture, Matthew Mccann

Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection

This paper explores the pedagogical implications of developing a critical thinking classroom culture in secondary education, targeting educators seeking to enhance their teaching practices and foster critical thinking skills in their students through consistent engagement. A secondary educator completing his degree from UMass Boston’s Critical and Creative Thinking Program (CCT) depicts the importance of nurturing critical thinking skills for students through the establishment of a critical thinking culture in the secondary education classroom. Critical thinking is given a working definition along with culture, and an investigation of culture and culture building, aspects of critical thinking, and pedagogy serve to explore …

A Peer Review Benchmark Portfolio For Architectural Design Studio: Situate, Matthew Miller

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This portfolio examines a third-year architectural design studio that emphasizes the development of designs that consider site and context. As part of a four-year sequence to gaining a Bachelor of Science in Design, this studio takes on a critical discourse of the impact designs may have on the environments they inhabit, the community of people that they interact with, and the cultures and practices followed within a region. This research examined how different modes of teaching could help with building narratives and identifying the measurable impact a design would have on its environment, community, and culture through repetition of verbal …

Plas 439: Organic Farming And Food Systems Faculty-Led Inquiry Into Reflective Scholarly Teaching Benchmark Portfolio, Christian Stephenson

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

Organic Farming and Food Systems is a senior and graduate level course for students in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture. This course was previously offered but has been significantly modified as I have taken on responsibility for the course. Goals for the course include student comprehension of the methods of organic and regenerative farming and the impacts of those methods on economic, environmental, and social sustainability. An additional goal is to build student competency in the evaluation of primary, secondary, and tertiary information resources and critical thinking surrounding issues in food production. Assessment for the course was through diverse …

Pltl Develops Scholars For Majors In The Built-Environment​, Shpat Halili, Calvin O. Walters Jr.

Publications and Research

The National Science Foundation S-STEM program at NYC College of Technology (City Tech), Developing an Ecosystem of STEM success for Built Environment Scholars (Award Number 2150432), focuses on supporting and developing scholars in the majors relating to the Built Environment. The proposed project includes the expansion of Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) at City Tech. The PLTL model creates a supportive learning environment and supplements the faculty-centered classroom with student-led and student-oriented workshops. At City Tech, existing workshops provide curricular support in statics and mathematics. The PLTL program benefits promising first-year STEM students, and the S-STEM program utilizes the PLTL model …

Climbing The Doctoral Mountain To Success, Ronald Black

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

All educational journeys lead to successful personal and professional conclusions. Online doctoral students face numerous challenges from cultural, academic, and technological challenges throughout their doctoral journey. The doctoral journey requires the completion of a dissertation, a sign of scholarly achievement and success. With technology, online doctoral students enter a doctoral program looking for motivation to be successful and enhance their online doctoral journey. Mentoring plays a significant role in an online doctoral student’s journey through the doctoral study and research process. The doctoral mentor’s role is to advise and motivate online doctoral students through the dissertation process. Doctoral mentors guide …

Building Community For Completion: Doctoral Students’ Perceptions Of Technology Integration Within Dissertation Committee Collaboration, Scott A. Fillman, Barbara Holmes, Dejuanna Parker, Kent Willis

The Journal of Advancing Education Practice

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the prevalence of technology-mediated collaboration and mentorship between dissertation committee members and doctoral student scholars. Qualitative research methods were used to explore the role of technology for collaboration and building community within dissertation committees, focusing on dissertation scholars’ perspectives. The study was based on one overarching research question: How do doctoral students describe the integration of technology for collaborating with dissertation committees? Doctoral scholar participants described the importance of technological literacy within dissertation committees, most indicating that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the importance of fluency with technology. Other participants portrayed the importance of technological literacy within …

Participatory Photography As A Creative And Collaborative Tool In Teaching Peace Education, Rodgen M. Jabor

Peace and Conflict Studies

Peace and education are inseparable. Grounding on the aforementioned premise, peace education has become part of the curriculum in a number of countries including the Philippines. Along with the inclusion of peace education was the challenge of how to provide responsive and meaningful learning experiences in peace education. This article discusses the attempt of the use of participatory photography as a teaching methodology. Ten pre-service teachers participated in a peace education class that trialed the use of participatory photography as a teaching approach guided by a manual that was developed by the researcher. Through conducting a focus group discussion, and …

The Feeling Of Being On The Stage: Arab College Students' Oral Presentation Performance And Anxiety: A Mixed Method Study, Moza Juma Al Kaabi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This study explored Arab college students' oral presentation performance and anxiety using a convergent mixed-method design. The study used three data sets; in the first data set, the college students (n=265) completed an Oral Presentation and Anxiety Survey (OPAS); and the second data set featured a semi-structured interview with a subset sample (n=11), followed by an observation protocol with the interviewees (n=11) for the third data set. The quantitative findings revealed that technological aids significantly affected the levels of Language Anxiety experienced during Oral Presentations. The mean scores showed that females perceived more technical support than males. Additionally, a difference …

Preserving The Historic And Cultural Music Of Louisiana Through School Music: An Ethnographic Case Study, Christopher S. Song

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this ethnographic case study was to examine the lives of teachers, students, community members, and culture bearers within a musical community located in South Central Louisiana. The geographic area of focus in this research was Vermilion Parish and its surrounding area, known as Acadiana, the heart of Creole and Cajun culture where Traditional Louisiana Music finds its origins. Participants’ intrinsic cultural understandings of Louisiana’s music and impact on school music programs was examined through ethnographic interview and observation. A resource pedagogy known as funds of knowledge was used as a theoretical framework meant to maintain participants’ intrinsic …