Towards Dementia-Inclusive Digital Text-Based Health Information: A Multi-Method Investigation Of Cognitive And Affective Accessibility, Margi Engineer

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This dissertation examines the accessibility, readability, emotional tone, and trustworthiness of digital, text‑based dementia information and investigates how older adults with and without dementia cognitively and affectively engage with such content. It further explores the potential of generative AI to improve dementia information delivery through the development of a domain‑specific retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG) large language model (LLM) chatbot designed to deliver accessible, stigma‑free information. The dissertation comprises four studies using complementary quantitative and qualitative methods. Study I conducts a large‑scale content analysis of 300 medical articles, 35 websites, and 50 blogs, applying readability metrics, LIWC‑based linguistic and sentiment analysis, and …

Exploring The Impact Of Co-Teaching On High School Math Achievement For Students With Disabilities, Josh T. Oxendine

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This Dissertation in Practice explores the implementation of a co-teaching model in Algebra 1 classrooms at Green High School, part of the Excellent School District. The study was conducted due to the persistent underperformance among students with disabilities (SWD) on the Algebra 1 End of Course test, which led to the school’s designation as an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) site by the South Carolina Department of Education. Developed using the principles of improvement science, the study utilized the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle as a framework to guide and evaluate change.

The change idea centered on embedding co-teaching in two …

Creating A Culture Of College And Career Readiness- Strategies And Interventions For African American Students, James R. Ford

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The persistent underrepresentation of African American students in college and career ready graduates presents a significant challenge within U.S. educational systems. This study investigates targeted strategies to increase the percentage of African American students graduating from high school college or career ready per South Carolina standards. The research was conducted in a rural school district known for its diverse student body and significant disparities in educational outcomes. The study's primary objective was to identify and implement educational interventions that enhance college and career readiness (CCR) specifically for African American students, thereby aiming to bridge the gap in readiness and contribute …

Using Improvement Science To Reduce Student Retention In High School Through School-Based Mentoring, Ellen B. Borland

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The disproportionate demographics among retained students must be addressed. School-based mentoring has been recognized as an effective tool for motivating and supporting students at-risk of not graduating on time. This research aimed to explore the impact of a school-based mentoring program on positive student outcomes, specifically academic achievement, among high school students at-risk of not graduating on time. This study followed twenty-three students and mentors throughout the school year, and examined the association between school-based mentoring and grade level retention or promotion. The results were compared to the same group of students and their performance during the previous school year, …

Use Of Vocabulary Strategies To Aid English Language Learners In A General Education Biology Classroom, Virginia Perry

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The demographics of the typical American classroom continue to present as a more diverse student population with the increase of English Language Learners (ELL) entering public schools. General education teachers on a secondary level are challenged with incorporating academic language instruction into content instruction for ELLs. Many of these teachers seek appropriate instructional strategies to teach ELLs academic language skills related to literacy to comprehend the specific content taught at the secondary level. A deeper understanding of language and skill acquisition within a secondary classroom can help guide future efforts in implementing effective literacy strategies to address ELLs’ academic language …

Annotations Of Awareness: A Framework For Externalizing Thinking To Promote Metacognitive Discourse In High School English And Social Studies Classrooms, Todd Howard

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Teachers find it challenging to integrate metacognition into the classroom to promote critical thinking, but such rigorous instruction is one way to improve access to quality education for all students, no matter their access to outside-of-school resources. To help teachers find more comfort and confidence in designing for increased critical thinking and metacognitive discourse and to help close the theory-practice gap in metacognition research, I conducted a mixed-methods case study focusing on assessment-design interventions. Using the Metacognitive Framework for Assessment Design and Annotations of Awareness, both designed in response to my literature review, my 90-day action research included three Plan-Do-Study-Act …

Designing And Evaluating Accessible E-Learning For Students With Visual Impairments In K-12 Computing Education, Earl W. Huff Jr

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This dissertation explores the pathways for making K-12 computing education more accessible for blind or visually impaired (BVI) learners. As computer science (CS) expands into K-12 education, more concerted efforts are required to ensure all students have equitable access to opportunities to pursue a career in computing. To determine their viability with BVI learners, I conducted three studies to assess current accessibility in CS curricula, materials, and learning environments. Study one was interviews with visually impaired developers; study two was interviews with K-12 teachers of visually impaired students; study three was a remote observation within a computer science course. My …