Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Conello Vendor Marketplace Capstone: A Review On The Capstone Process And Computer Science Degree, Levi Hauck

University Honors Theses

This Capstone Review Thesis discusses the current structure of the Computer Science Degree path and Computer Science Capstone at PSU. This thesis reviews the Conello Vendor Marketplace Capstone, a project designed to help address the issue of teambuilding in the workplace. It points out ways in which teamwork and organization is an underdeveloped skill in Computer Science. During the Capstone project, the project management method of Agile development was recommended and used. However, it became clear that the team, leader included, had a gap in knowledge and skills to be successful, as well as a lack of experience in team …

Leveraging Student Data To Assess, Inform, And Develop Teachers Capacities, Nathan D. Koerber, Kenneth J. Fasching-Varner

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This quantitative study analyzed 47 survey responses to gauge in-service, pre-licensed teacher, and paraprofessional perceptions of cultural competency. Participants responded to the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society’s Cultural Competence Self-Assessment Checklist (Alpha = 0.7) to explore their awareness, knowledge, and skills in cultural competency. Moreover, through the application of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) as a theoretical framework, this study highlighted how these perceptions related to culturally responsive teaching and provided several implications for their future preparation to further develop their cultural competency through the tenets of CRT. The analysis identified participant unfamiliarity with privilege and its impact, as well as …

Regional And District Trends In Oregon’S Post-Pandemic School Enrollment And Achievement, Madhu Narayanan

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

Oregon has been highlighted as a state with large student enrollment changes after the pandemic, as well as persistent learning loss. Unlike many other states in the nation, this learning loss has persisted. This paper goes beyond the statewide trends to examine regional and district level patterns in both enrollment changes and learning outcomes. One major finding is that while districts in all regions experienced enrollment changes, Large Urban and Suburban districts had notable enrollment declines. These declines were driven by a decrease in White students. Meanwhile, Suburban districts had increases in Asian, Black, and Multiracial students. Another finding is …

Testing Their Limits: Impact And Intentions Of Standardized Testing In K-12 Schools, Grace O. Herd

University Honors Theses

The integration of High-Stakes standardized testing into U.S. public education to serve as an accountability system has been a disputed issue since the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated these assessments nationwide in 2002. NCLB aimed to locate and identify schools failing to reach Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and trigger a chain of interventions based on student performance, as an effort to track measurable outcomes from federal education funding. While supporters view these standardized tests as quantifiable data for school effectiveness in academics, critics challenge the claim of validity.

This review integrates current psychological research in the area of …

University Studies First-Year Inquiry Student Success Pilot Year 1 Report 2024 - 2025, Sarah Dougher, Lindsey Wilkinson, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

During the 24-25 academic year, fourteen University Studies First-year Inquiry courses participated in a pilot supported by the Office of Student Success that embeds student support resources into course work, activities, and curricula. This is an effort to connect students more directly to support services they may need to be successful at PSU, to increase their sense of belonging, and ultimately increase their completion of FRINQ. The Pilot is being evaluated based on academic outcomes, PSU resource use, and measures of efficacy and belonging. For Information about our evaluation methods and data sources, please see the full report and the …

A Profile Of Sophomore Inquiry Students Fall 2025, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students who enroll in Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) courses and begin to identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of SINQ students from Fall 2025. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in SINQ during Fall 2025 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey. It is organized around three areas that contribute to student success: academic preparation and concern; financial and physical wellbeing; and connectedness to campus.

A Profile Of Freshman Inquiry Students Fall 2025, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students enrolled in Freshman Inquiry (FRINQ) courses and identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of FRINQ students from Fall 2025. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in FRINQ during Fall 2025 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey.

Integrating Rehabilitation Services Into Routine Care Of Rheumatoid Arthritis May Reduce The Inflammatory Response: A Hospital-Based Follow-Up Study In Taiwan, Hui-Ju Huang, Wei-Jen Chen, Hanoch Livneh, Hua-Lung Huang, Ming-Chi Lu, Tzung-Yi Tsai, Multiple Additional Authors

Counselor Education Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and Objectives:

For persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the accompanying systemic inflammatory conditions often insidiously damage extra-glandular organs, causing poor outcomes. Despite evidence manifesting the application of rehabilitation services (RSs), the association between RSs use and changes in the inflammatory response among persons with RA has not yet been established. With that in mind, this study aimed to evaluate changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) before and after long-term RSs use.

Materials and Methods:

For this two-group pre and posttest study, medical data of 4505 persons with RA aged 20–70 years between 2012 and 2017 …

University Studies Annual Assessment 2023-2024, Portland State University. University Studies Program

University Studies Annual Assessment Reports

Annual in-depth examination and assessment of Portland State University's general education model, the University Studies Program. The tools and methods used to assess student learning are faculty driven and developed.

Mathematics Education Reform Through Socio-Political Means: A Synthesis, Nadine Ferguson

University Honors Theses

Mathematics education urgently needs reform, as traditional approaches fail to meet the diverse needs of today's student populations. Conventional teaching methods, which often focus on rote memorization and procedural understanding, overlook mathematics being a human activity that is inherently interlinked with culture. This paper explores three key approaches to reforming mathematics education: differentiation, culturally responsive mathematics (CRM), and critical mathematics. Grounded in Rochelle Gutiérrez's definition of equity--which emphasizes nurturing students' mathematical identities and agency--this analysis evaluates how each approach addresses four critical goals: ensuring access for all students to complex mathematics, fostering student confidence, promoting collaboration, and making mathematics relevant …

Student Perceptions: How Stem Students Value Belonging Interventions, Elizabeth Runkel Baez

University Honors Theses

With the prioritization of increasing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates in the United States, researchers have become increasingly interested in how to promote STEM students' sense of belonging. Sense of belonging is considered a marker of persistence in STEM. Facilitated 'belonging interventions' are one way to strengthen a sense of belonging amongst STEM students. How students respond to, value, and understand these belonging interventions is relatively understudied. In this study, focus groups were conducted with STEM students from a single university to investigate how they value an in-class belonging activity. Qualitative thematic coding of focus group responses revealed …

A Profile Of Freshman Inquiry Students Fall 2024, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students enrolled in Freshman Inquiry (FRINQ) courses and identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of FRINQ students from Fall 2024. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in FRINQ during Fall 2024 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey.

University Studies Research Brief: Winter 2024 Frinq Faculty Student Persistence Survey, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

Of 1285 students enrolled in First-year Inquiry (FRINQ) during fall term 2023, 161 (13%) received an F, W, or I grade in FRINQ and/or did not return to PSU during winter term. In order to better understand why these students struggled or did not return, FRINQ faculty were surveyed about the students in their courses who received an F, W, or I grade in their fall term FRINQ and/or did not return to PSU for winter term. For each student, faculty were asked to identify specific challenges the student may have faced and any support they knew the student had …

University Studies Capstone Community Partner Feedback Spring 2024, Rowanna L. Carpenter, Seanna Kerrigan

University Studies Assessment Research

Since 1995, Portland State University has offered students the opportunity to engage in the community as the culmination of their general education experience through Capstones, community-engaged courses, each of which has a community partner. For several years after the beginning of the program, community partners were asked for their feedback. However, over time, response rates declined and the collaborating office was reorganized, so the practice was discontinued. During Winter 2024, University Studies (UNST) implemented a revised survey to seek feedback from current partners. Thirty-six respondents from twenty-five community partners (representing approximately 75 Capstones and thus half of UNST 421 Capstones) …

University Studies Annual Assessment 2022-2023, Portland State University. University Studies Program

University Studies Annual Assessment Reports

Annual in-depth examination and assessment of Portland State University's general education model, the University Studies Program. The tools and methods used to assess student learning are faculty driven and developed.

A Profile Of Freshman Inquiry Students Fall 2023, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students enrolled in Freshman Inquiry (FRINQ) courses and identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of FRINQ students from Fall 2023. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in FRINQ during Fall 2023 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey.

How Does A School Support Students Who Experience Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Challenges?, Hannah Steely

University Honors Theses

This qualitative study identified how educators and administrators support elementary school students who experience social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Semi-structured interviews were used to understand how students are supported through Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) in an elementary school. We interviewed six participants, including one administrator, two general educators, one literacy specialist, and two learning specialists. The results revealed the frequent use of common strategies within MTSS that included Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) and Behavioral Support Plan (BSP) tools and strategies. These strategies included: (a) zones of regulation, (b) in-class or out-of-class support from education specialists, (c) check …

21st Century Learning Ecosystem Opportunities: Research And Findings With Kathy Harris, Kathy Harris

PDXPLORES Podcast

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Kathy Harris, the Director of the Literacy, Language and Research Group in the Department of Applied Linguistics at Portland State University, discusses 21st Century Learning Ecosystem Opportunities: Research and Findings. 21 CLEO is a research project launched to increase the understanding and of the complexities of learning ecosystems in employer supported training and education initiatives for individuals struggling with the digital literacy skills required to navigate life in the 21st Century.

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A Profile Of Sophomore Inquiry Students Fall 2023, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students who enroll in Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) courses and begin to identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of SINQ students from Fall 2022. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in SINQ during Fall 2022 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey. It is organized around three areas that contribute to student success: academic preparation and concern; financial and physical wellbeing; and connectedness to campus.

“Why You Always So Political?”: A Counterstory About Educational-Environmental Racism At A Predominantly White University, Martín Alberto Gonzalez

Chicano/Latino Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Using critical race counterstorytelling, I tell a story about the experiences of Mexican/Mexican American/Xicanx (MMAX) undergraduate students at private, historically and predominantly white university in the Northeast. Drawing on in-depth interviews, participant observations, pláticas, document analyses, and literature on race and space and racism in higher education, I argue that the racially hostile campus environment experienced by MMAX students at their respective university manifests itself as a form of educational-environmental racism. Through narrated dialogue, Aurora (a composite character) and I delve into a critical conversation about how educational-environmental racism is experienced by MMAX students through a racialized landscape in the …

Reflections On A Fellowship And Time As A Dei Coordinator With Oscar Fernandez, Oscar Fernandez

PDXPLORES Podcast

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Dr. Óscar Fernández, a contingent faculty member in University Studies at Portland State University, discusses his work during a diversity fellowship at UC Irvine. That work resulted in the forthcoming essay, "Queering a Coordinator's Diversity, Equity, and Illusion (DEI) Work in Academe: Disappointments, Self-Deceits, and Hopes Disclosed," to be published by the University of California Humanities Research Institute's journal Foundry. Fernández opens up about his experiences as a DEI officer for University Studies, how that experience informed his essay, and thinking about DEI efforts within the context of higher education.

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A Profile Of Freshman Inquiry Students Fall 2022, Portland State University. University Studies Program, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students who enroll in Freshman Inquiry (FRINQ) courses and identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of FRINQ students from Fall 2022. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in FRINQ during Fall 2022 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey. It is organized around three areas that contribute to student success: academic preparation and concern; financial and physical wellbeing; and connectedness to campus.

A Profile Of Sophomore Inquiry Students Fall 2022, Portland State University. University Studies Program, Rowanna L. Carpenter

University Studies Assessment Research

In order to better understand the students who enroll in Sophomore Inquiry (SINQ) courses and begin to identify areas where they may need support, University Studies (UNST) began collecting and compiling data on these students. This report presents a profile of SINQ students from Fall 2022. It presents an overview of all students enrolled in SINQ during Fall 2022 and then summarizes information from the Prior Learning Survey. It is organized around three areas that contribute to student success: academic preparation and concern; financial and physical wellbeing; and connectedness to campus

Informing The Community-Based Learning Experience With Harold Mcnaron And August White, Harold Mcnaron, August White

PDXPLORES Podcast

In this episode of PDXPLORES, Harold McNaron and August White discuss how a collaboration with the American Association of Colleges and Universities will provide new information on how students experience community-based learning at PSU. The data provided by the project will support the University's efforts to improve racial and social justice through community and service-based learning opportunities. This project is supported by the University's Community Engaged Research Academy.

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When Enthusiasm For Learning Isn’T Enough, 21cleo Research Team

21CLEO Research Project Blog Posts

21CLEO Research Blog Post No.26

The Little Things Add Up, 21cleo Research Team

21CLEO Research Project Blog Posts

21CLEO Research Blog Post No.25

21cleo Research Team Draws On Critical Race Theory For New Peer Reviewed Article, 21cleo Research Team

21CLEO Research Project Blog Posts

21CLEO Research Blog Post No.24

Equity & Social Justice In Mathematics Education With Eva Thanheiser, Eva Thanheiser

PDXPLORES Podcast

Professor Eva Thanheiser's research lies at the intersections of mathematics education, social justice, and critical theory. In her work, she collaborates with teachers, students, parents, and community members to develop and implement anti-bias mathematics education that allows students to connect mathematics to their worlds. In this episode of PDXPLORES, Thanheiser discusses this work and its impact on mathematics education.

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Many Voices: Participants As Research Partners, 21cleo Research Team

21CLEO Research Project Blog Posts

No abstract provided.

Working Learners In An Workplace Learning Ecosystem, 21cleo Research Team

21CLEO Research Project Blog Posts

No abstract provided.