Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Academic And Non-Academic Barriers Impacting Student Success And Retention In Corequisite English, Stephanie Tolliver Hyman

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Stephanie Tolliver Hyman on March 13, 2025.

Teacher Decision Making In Guided-Reading, Brittany Worthen

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Guided reading provides teachers the opportunity to support students in literacy learning. When planning for and implementing this instructional approach, teachers are required to make various in-advance and in-the-moment decisions that involve responding to students’ instructional needs through adaptive teaching. Grounded in sociocultural and social constructivist theories, this study was designed to understand teacher decision-making within the context of guided reading instruction.

This research was a collective case study aimed at providing a better understanding of the various decisions teachers make when teaching in a guided reading context. Findings pertaining to in-advanced decisions that emerged from the data can be …

Power Of Partnerships, Joni Meade

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

No abstract provided.

Uncovering Dimensions Of Learning Management System Event Logs: Insights From Exploratory Factor Analysis, Psychometric Network Analysis, And Consensus Hierarchical Clustering, Surina He, Okan Bulut, Ying Cui, Tarid Wongvorachan

Chinese/English Journal of Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 教育测量与评估双语期刊

Log data extracted from learning management systems (LMS) have become an increasingly valuable resource for understanding students’ learning behaviors. These data are unobtrusive, cost-effective, and offer fine-grained insights. However, their complexity and large volume present substantial challenges in identifying interpretable underlying dimensions across different event types. To address this challenge, this study applied exploratory factor analysis, psychometric network analysis, and consensus hierarchical clustering to analyze 122,167 log entries from 25 event types collected in a large undergraduate course (n = 527 students). Four distinct clusters of student activities were identified in the event logs: submission, quiz-taking, discussion, and background-viewing. …

Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices For Documenting Inclusive And Accessible Web-Based Research Design, Alicia Mason, Elizabeth Spencer, Pan Liu, Kristen Livingston, Sakshi Bhati, Angela Ashmore, Tristan A. Spencer, Lauren Shepard

Faculty Submissions

Accessibility disclosure is a core principle of the Project IRIS Best Practice Framework. This instructional resource-- Accessibility Disclosure Statements: Best Practices for Documenting Inclusive Web-Based Research Design-introduces options for reporting accessible web-based research design efforts in scholarly and professional publications. The three forms of accessibility disclosure statements are introduced: summary statements, reports of analysis--both general and specific-, and detailed process descriptions. Each of these strategies including terms, conceptual definitions, and examples are provided. The instructional resource may be of interest to undergraduate and graduate course instructors teaching research methods courses in a variety of social science disciplines.

The History Matters: Fighting For Equal Education In Lowell, Massachusetts, 1970-1990, Robert Forrant, Chandaranee Khoeun, Chrisna Khuon

Institute for Asian American Studies Publications

This is a story about Southeast Asian and Latino parents in Lowell, MA who confronted the Lowell School Committee in the late 1970s and 1980s, demanding that schools be desegregated and that their children have equal educational opportunities. While the school struggle unfolded, acts of anti-Asian and anti-Latino violence were perpetrated in Greater Boston and around the country, including the tragic death of Vandy Phorng, a 13-year-old Cambodian American in 1987. Following his death, the federal lawsuit that Southeast Asian and Latino parents had filed moved through the federal court for two years before the city settled. However, further racism …

Contingent Enrollment Initiative At A Highly Selective Public University, Sean Dufault

Journal of Academic Underperformance

When first-year students arrive on campus, they may face many challenges, such as insufficient academic preparation, conflicting obligations, social adjustment, and traversing the college landscape. This challenge is magnified for academically at-risk students leading higher education institutions to invest funds and retention efforts into student success programs. The current study was designed to investigate conditionally admitted at-risk first-year students at a highly selective public university (HSPU) concerning their perceptions of participating in the Jump Start program regarding their adjustment to the university, the program's requirements, and their sense of belonging to the university. The current study employed an inductive analysis …

Use Of Simulation In Dietetic Internships: A Qualitative Exploration Of Program Director Attitudes And Motivations, Theresa B. O'Reilly, Amy J. Nwora, Megan Whelan, Mary-Pat Maciolek

Journal of Dietetic Education

The use of simulation holds promise for the future of dietetics education for its use as an alternative for up to 30% of the 1,000 supervised practice hours for the training of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. Even more so, simulation is a teaching tool. When done well, simulation can challenge students in a safe environment where they can receive constructive feedback from expert guides and meaningfully reflect on their learning. The purpose of this study was to interview dietetic internship (DI) program directors on their attitudes and motivations on the use of simulation in their programs, targeting the heavily program-congested states …

The Greenhouse Effect: Using Student-Generated Agricultural Data To Warm Up Students For Data-Based Decision Making, Shonda Kuiper, Abhishek Chakraborty, Tyler George, Lisa W. Kay, Lawrence M. Lesser, Ginger Rowell, Dennis Pearl, Scott Crawford, Anna Olsen

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This article describes a collaborative project across multiple institutions to compare two versions of a regression activity: (a) a website version that collected student data through an online simulation with corresponding apps for visualization and (b) a traditional paper handout version that had a static dataset. This allowed us to evaluate the differences in student learning and attitudes when students have a stronger connection with the data through an interactive—and hopefully fun—data-collection process than they do when they are given a worksheet with a pre-collected dataset. While student and instructor responses indicated they liked the activity in both formats, the …

Teacher Retention And The Future Of Learning: Alarming Concerns About Preparing The Next Generation Of Citizens, Dejuanna M. Parker, Barbara D. Holmes

Journal of Research Initiatives

Research is robust in detailing the various reasons teachers leave the profession. There is scant literature on why teachers stay and what should be done to improve teacher retention. Teacher retention is a primary concern nationally and internationally. The inability to retain teachers has resulted in a teacher shortage and significantly affects student learning. Sorenson and Ladd (2020) This study yielded three emergent themes related to integral factors of teacher retention: changing attitudes on administrative support, workplace collegiality, and persistence of passion and purpose. Recommendations offered include encouraging administrators to leverage the passion and commitment of the educators to create …

An Investigation Of Ninth Grade Students’ Perceptions Of Equitable Grading Practices, Sarah Ruth Morris, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Jonathan Wai, Robert Anthony Maranto

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study investigated students’ perceptions of grading equity practices, focusing on preferences and the influence of student characteristics on support for grading equity. Through surveys and open-ended questions involving 256 ninth-grade students, the research highlighted a general preference for fair and supportive grading systems that consider individual circumstances and offer retake opportunities. Multivariate OLS regression analysis reveals that while Pre-AP students show resistance, students experiencing high-stress levels favor equitable grading practices. The findings suggest the need for educational reforms prioritizing transparency and fairness, including student voices in policy development, and emphasizing grading systems that support holistic student development.

Toward A Critical Pedagogy Of Assessment Integrating Social Studies Education: The Proposed Socio-Critical Assessment Integration Framework (Scaif), Caroline O. Alordiah, Regina Arisi

Journal of Research Initiatives

The Socio-Critical Assessment Integration Framework (SCAIF) and its consequences for social studies education are examined in this study. The results emphasize the advantages of developing inclusive learning environments, encouraging comprehensive evaluation procedures, encouraging applicability to the real world, and giving students agency by allowing participation in the evaluation process actively. Teachers can promote social justice, question prevailing narratives, and foster critical discourse in the classroom using a critical pedagogy lens. Student learning outcomes are improved by authentic assessment activities that reflect real-world problems and demand that students use their knowledge in meaningful ways. Inclusive learning settings respect student diversity, encourage …

Navigating Climate Action: The River As Teacher For Eco-Literacy, Educational Regeneration And Creative Participation, Bibi (Silvina) Calderaro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cultures' engagements with land and its more-than-human elements reveal their attitudes toward these dimensions, spanning a spectrum from reciprocal to transactional practices. In time, these engagements form a body of knowledges that nurtures the culture and its land, or arrests their vital and diverse qualities. This research project aims to bring to light how the different ways of engaging with and relating to land are embedded in knowledge production, distribution and communication—in short, in general educational endeavors and their philosophies—to promote a better understanding of the principles of eco-literacy. Additionally, a purpose of this project is to provide insights into …

Efektivitas Full Body Stretching Dan Edukasi Manual Handling Digital Terhadap Keluhan Musculoskeletal Disorders Pekerja Yantek, Nadia Rosalinda, Anita Sulistyorini, Marji Marji, Supriyadi Supriyadi, Tika Dwi Tama

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Diseases (PAK) in the form of pain complaints in the skeletal system that cause the work process are called Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). PT. PLN Yantek workers are at risk of experiencing MSDs complaints because the work is done manually and the work posture is less ergonomic. This study aimed to analyze the effect of implementing full-body stretch and digital-based manual handling education and to assess its effectiveness on MSDs. The study used a quasi-experimental method with a one-group pretest-posttest design involving 26 Yantek workers. The intervention was given at 10 meetings, MSDs complaints were measured using the Nordic Body …

Identifying Underachiever Gifted Students In Jordan, Hadeel Al-Akkad, Ali M. Alodat, Eid Kanaan

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

Objectives: This study aimed to identify gifted students with low achievement in Jordan by studying the impact of a set of factors and variables and to provide a scale with acceptable psychometric properties to identify this category of students. Methodology: The Mixed Approach was used using the comparative descriptive approach in the quantitative part and semi-in-depth interviews in the qualitative part. (349) gifted students were selected intentionally from King Abdul Allah II Schools for Excellence from the eighth to twelfth grades, where the number of gifted students with high achievement (220) and the number of gifted students with low achievement …

Action Research As A Pathway To Discovery In The School Library, David Vickers Loertscher, Michelle Young

Learning Hub

No abstract provided.

Remodeling Pedagogical Evaluation Tools To Incorporate Student Self-Efficacy And Sense Of Belonging In Scientific Research, Richelle L. Tanner, Nicholas P. Burnett, Emily E. King, Anne E. Todgham

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Curated undergraduate research experiences have been widely used at colleges and universities for decades to build student interest, technical preparation, and confidence in the pursuit of scientific careers. Educators often employ standardized survey instruments to evaluate learning outcomes for research experiences, but many of these assessments consider only technical skill development and career interests and are not rooted in discrete pedagogical theories. As higher education aims to create inclusive and equitable learning experiences for students, we argue that pedagogical assessment tools for undergraduate research experiences need to expand to consider outcomes such as increased science literacy, confidence in relational “soft” …

Autoethnographic Action Research As A Contemplative Practice: Awareness And Transformation Of Inner And Outer Selves, Jiju Varghese, Bal Chandra Luitel, Niroj Dahal

The Qualitative Report

Contemplation as a spiritual practice has taken various forms across different religious traditions and regions worldwide. Over the years, various contemplative practices have evolved and become popular even outside religious traditions to promote the well-being of all for inner and outer selves’ transformation. In education, many scholars worldwide have expounded on the benefits of contemplative practices in the classroom for students and teachers. Contemplative practices have penetrated research practices in the form of contemplative inquiry considering performative, philosophical, and artistic transformations, where researchers enter into a deep, thoughtful, and reflective introspective journey to see the connection between what is seen …

Mars Sample Return Earth Entry System Uncertainty Analysis, Michael D. Squire, Victor Cabrera, Eric Christiansen, Alan Jenkin, Kevin Hoffman, Quincy Mckown, Peter Parker, Glenn Peterson, Bruno Victorino Sarli, William P. Schonberg, Katie Steward, Brian Tulaba, Joel Williamsen

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Spacecraft designers and operators use micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) risk assessments to predict the probability that an MMOD particle impact will cause a critical failure to their systems. An important aspect of MMOD risk and associated requirements is the treatment of uncertainty, often difficult to quantify, or even estimate, for many elements of MMOD risk. This paper describes recent efforts to estimate uncertainties in inputs to the MMOD risk assessment process for a portion of the planned Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The uncertainty bounds developed were used to examine their effect on overall mission MMOD risk.

The Impact Of Administrator-Led Walkthroughs On Teacher Self-Efficacy, Kerri Templeton

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This qualitative phenomenological study explored how administrator-led instructional walkthroughs influence teacher self-efficacy in one public school district located in West Virginia. Guided by Bandura’s (1977) framework of self-efficacy, the research examined the lived experiences of teachers and administrators who participated in regularly scheduled walkthroughs as part of a district-wide instructional leadership initiative. Data were collected through open-ended surveys with PK–12 teachers and administrators and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to the perceived impact of the walkthrough process.

Findings revealed that when walkthroughs were conducted with clear purpose, relational trust, and consistent, meaningful feedback, they …

Analyzing Micrometeoroid And Orbital Debris Shield Performance For Sample Return Spacecraft, William P. Schonberg, Michael Squire

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sample-return missions typically seek to collect and return samples from extraterrestrial locations to Earth for analysis. The return of samples from certain locations in the solar system represents a potential hazard to Earth's biosphere from foreign microorganisms. One way this could occur would be a break-up of the returning capsule during entry (which would disperse the samples through the air) due to undetected damage to the capsule thermal protection system (TPS). As a result, missions that plan to return payloads from some destinations are likely to have certain design requirements for the TPS surrounding their returning capsules, which may include …

2024-2025 Continuous Improvement, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Assessment Center Reports

The 2024-2025 Continuous Improvement report produced by the SWOSU Assessment Center.

2025 Student Satisfaction Inventory, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Assessment Center Reports

Student Satisfaction Inventories produced by the SWOSU Assessment Center.

2025 Alumni Survey, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Assessment Center Reports

Alumni Survey reports produced by the SWOSU Assessment Center.

2024-2025 Service Learning Report, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Assessment Center Reports

Service-learning is an educational approach that combines classroom instruction with hands-on community service, intentionally linking academic learning with real-world application to meet both student developmental goals and community needs, all through structured reflection. In 2004, Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) joined the Campus Compact coalition, a partnership of over 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education.

Case Study: Impact On Student Outcomes, Kyoungeun Song

Bakerman Student Research Awards

Effective literacy instruction requires more than teaching by instinct. Teachers must make decisions based on research. This case study began while I was working with Zaya (a pseudonym), a kindergarten student who struggled with reading. Zaya was eager to learn, but her baseline data showed serious difficulties. Her Initial Sound Fluency (FSF) score was zero, and she could not name letters without constant teacher prompting. She often waited for me to start first and then copied me. These results showed that Zaya was experiencing real challenges in phonological processing. This led to an important research question: How can a research-based …

The Influence Of Family-School Communication On Junior High School Students’ Academic Success, Stephen Junior Amoah

Masters Theses

This study examines the influence of family-school communication on students' academic success in the context of Ghana, with a particular focus on Junior High School (JHS) students. While existing research emphasizes the importance of family involvement in educational outcomes, limited studies explore how family-school communication directly affects academic success in Ghana. By using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative and qualitative data collection. The quantitative component includes an online survey distributed to JHS graduates, assessing the frequency, impact, methods, and barriers of communication between families and schools, as well as their perceived effect on academic performance. The survey includes …

Ground Testing Of A Magnetic-Electrostatic Separation System For Lunar Regolith Beneficiation, Peter Bachle, Charles Wood, Jeffrey Smith, Fateme Rezaei, David Bayless, William Schonberg, Daoru Han

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The separation of lunar regolith by mineral composition and size category is useful forin-situ resource utilization (ISRU). The research presented herein discusses the designing and development of equipment that has the potential to separate lunar regolith into aluminum, iron-titanium, and magnesium-iron ores. Along with the metal ore separation, this equipment shows the potential to separate regolith by size categories. The combined effect of these separation methods generates output that is valuable to subsequent use in metal and oxygen extraction, additive manufacturing, and regolith sintering processes. The designed equipment uses a dual-strength magnet system with N42 and N52 neodymium magnets for …

The Role Of Faith-Based Adult Education In Black And Marginalized Communities, Brian Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how faith-based and strengths-based adult education programs impact the cognitive well-being, life purpose, and socioeconomic outcomes of Black, and marginalized adult learners. The research seeks to understand the lived experiences of participants, motivations, and barriers to inform more inclusive and effective adult education practices. Additionally, the study aims to understand what impact these organizations are having on the self-efficacy, socioeconomic outcomes of Black and marginalized students, while looking to align areas for improvement. While the study uses quantitative methods to answer research question, the focus of questions bring insight that would …

Extending The Applicability Of Thermal Protection System Ballistic Limit Equations Beyond The Testable Regime, William P. Schonberg, Michael D. Squire

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Spacecraft use thermal insulation in their design, which is usually placed on their exterior. As such, it is susceptible to high-speed impacts by meteoroids and orbital debris, which can damage it to a point where the protection it offers is below acceptable limits. It is important to be able to characterize expected levels of damage stemming from such high-speed impacts. In this paper, we extend the applicability of a previously developed ballistic limit equation (BLE) for one such thermal insulation material using the results of a series of Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics Code (SPHC) impact simulations at velocities in excess of …