Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Rural Realities Unveiled: Non-Certified Teachers’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Scripted Literacy Curriculum In K-5 Classrooms, Amillia Woolfork

Theses and Dissertations

The persistent shortage of certified teachers in rural school districts has led to an increased reliance on non-certified teachers NCTs to deliver literacy instruction. To support these educators, many districts have implemented scripted curricula, which provide structured lessons and instructional materials. However, limited research exists on the experiences of NCTs using scripted curricula and their impact on their teaching practices and self-efficacy. This qualitative exploratory case study examines the perceptions and lived experiences of non-certified literacy teachers in rural elementary schools who utilize scripted curricula. Guided by Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory and Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, this study examined how NCTs …

The Impact Of Pre-Kindergarten Programs On Literacy Achievement In Primary Grades In Rural Southeast Alabama Title I Schools, Courtney Sonntonya Thorton

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how pre-kindergarten impacts the literacy achievement of students in Alabama Title I schools. This quantitative study employed a causal-comparative (ex post facto) research design to examine the impact of Alabama’s First-Class Pre-K (FCPK) program on early literacy and school readiness, as measured by the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) and the Alabama Early Learning Inventory (AL ELI). The design was selected due to its appropriateness for studying naturally occurring groups and its capacity to explore potential cause-and-effect relationships without researcher-controlled intervention.

The independent variable was Pre-K attendance (attendee vs. …

Changing Mindsets: Building Teacher Efficacy To Increase School Connectedness & Reduce Disruptive Behaviors, Laurie Lynn Bankowski

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods Improvement Science study examined how targeted professional development on developmentally appropriate behavioral expectations and academic mindset impacts teacher efficacy, student-teacher relationships, and disruptive behaviors in a middle school setting. Quantitative data from pre- and post-intervention Teacher Self-Efficacy Scales and discipline referrals were analyzed alongside qualitative data from journal reflections, empathy interviews, and student characteristic posters. Findings indicated a significant increase in teacher self-efficacy and a reduction in disruptive behaviors. Teachers reported improved confidence in managing behavior, greater use of proactive strategies, and stronger relationships with students. The convergence of quantitative and qualitative data suggests that when educators are …

Persistent Reading Deficiencies In Early Education, William Steven Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated early reading teachers’ perceptions of the instructional practices they use to identify early elementary student reading proficiency, including unique challenges they face when addressing the development of early reading skills. The researcher investigated eight first and second grade teacher classrooms during the 2023–2024 school year through collective interviews, observations, and related school data. The researcher performed a qualitative analysis of the collected data to reveal varying themes that support recommendations to reduce persistent reading problems among early elementary students. Using purposeful sampling to select licensed, experienced participants, the insights of eight early elementary reading teachers …

Research Methodology Education In Europe: A Multi-Country, Cross-Disciplinary Survey Of Current Practices And Perspectives, Silke Kniffert, Ivan Buljan, Flavio Azevedo, Peter Babinčák, Lucija Batinović, Thomas Rhys Evans, Sara Garofalo, Christopher Graham, Lucianne Groenink, Malika Ihle, Milosav Klugar, Lucia Kočišová, Michal Kohút, Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos, Seán Lacey, Anita Lunić, Ana Marušić, Thomas Nordström, Charlotte R. Pennington, Daniel Pizzolato, Ulf Toelch, Marta Topor, Miro Vuković, Michiel R. De Boer

Publications

Background

Research methodology education aims to equip students with the foundational knowledge of robust scientific practices, emphasizing deep understanding of scientific inquiry, integrity, and critical thinking in research practice. A literature review reveals that the observed diversity in research methods course design and instruction stems from a lack of consensus about the essential foundations required to critically engage with, design, and execute research in education. This is further compounded by a limited pedagogical innovation. However, no study has yet investigated how research methodology is taught and perceived across European universities. The objective of this study is to examine practices and …

Exploring The Perceptions Of School Leaders And Teachers Towards The Role And Value Of School Librarians, Amanda Galliton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the perceptions of school leaders and teachers toward the role and value of school librarians in a North Central Texas Education Service Center area. The study investigated how superintendents, principals, and teachers view the contributions of certified school librarians to student achievement and school culture, particularly in light of budget cuts and the elimination of librarian positions. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research gathered information from superintendents, principals, and teachers, using quantitative and qualitative data and then quantitizing that data. The results reveal a significant variance in perceptions among superintendents, principals, and teachers, as well as a …

An Eye-Tracking Study Of Gaze Guidance And Visual Integration Effects On Attention, Learning, And Instructor Social Presence, Sonny Rosenthal, John Komar, Vanessa Simin Ho

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This study used the gaze-cueing effect and split-attention principle to study the impact of gaze guidance and lecture recording format on attention, knowledge retention and instructor social presence. The authors analysed data from 250 participants in a mixed factorial experiment with eye-tracking, self-reported instructor social presence and a delayed knowledge measure as dependent variables. Results showed that when the instructor looked at the slide content, participants spent more time looking at it (η2p = 0.044), but instructor social presence decreased (η2p = .040). The strongest decrease occurred when the content and instructor’s image were separated in a picture-in-picture video (η2p …

A Program Evaluation Of Restorative Storytelling As Professional Development For Waldorf Teachers, David Earl Sewell Mccann

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Storytelling, when using the National Storytelling Network’s definition, “the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination,” can be found in most classrooms around the world. If we agree with Walter Fisher and see stories as content with “coherence” and “fidelity” (Fisher, 1987), then much of the communication in classrooms could be considered a form of storytelling. A real question then becomes apparent: why aren’t teachers given extensive training and tools to strengthen their storytelling skills? Restorative Storytelling, a practice I developed out of my years as …

A Teacher’S Guide To Building And Maintaining High-Trust Relationships In An Ungraded Classroom, Elisabeth Maria-Asti Wennerth

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation addresses a persistent problem in secondary education: the misalignment between traditional grading systems and equitable, humanizing learning. While alternative assessment movements (e.g., ungrading) are gaining momentum, many implementations falter not for lack of techniques or strategies but for lack of trust between teachers and students, among peers, and across school–family partnerships. Guided by the central research question, How can a teacher’s resource guidebook be designed to support high school educators in adopting ungrading practices that build and maintain high-trust relationships?, this design-for-practice study synthesizes literature and theory to produce a modular practitioner guide. The conceptual framework integrates relational …

First-Gen Latinx/Afro-Latinx And Complex: Keeping Resilient Responses On Shuffle, Tibisay I. Hernandez

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This qualitative study examined the racialized experiences of first-generation Latinx and Afro-Latinx students in higher education. Fourteen participants engaged in pláticas, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups to reflect on how their identities, race, and institutional dynamics shaped their collegiate journeys. The study examined how these students navigated both personal and institutional settings, revealing the emergence of tensions around belonging, authenticity, and cultural responsibility in everyday interactions. Using Latino Critical Race Theory (LatCrit) alongside Multidimensional Identity Negotiation Theory (MINT) and Co-Cultural Communication Theory (CCCT), this study developed an emergent framework—the Resilient Response Model—to better understand how students respond to complex identity …

The Students’ Conceptions Of Assessment (Scoa) Instrument: A Validation Study In Medical Education Context, Diantha Soemantri, Nadia Greviana, Najila Ramadhina

Health Professions Education

Purpose: To validate the Students’ Conceptions of Assessment (SCoA) instrument for the medical education context as a tool to examine Indonesian medical students’ conceptions of assessment in general before its implementation.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the translated SCoA instrument. The original 45-item instrument was translated to Indonesian with some modifications. The study was conducted on a total of 308 preclinical and clinical participants in two public medical schools: Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Udayana.

Results: The samples were found to be suitable for exploratory factor analysis, as indicated by a high Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin value (0.949) and a significant …

Implementation Of Competency-Based Education In East Central Illinois, Cheyenne Warman-Neal

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of the effectiveness of competency-based education in a rural school district located in East Central Illinois. The researcher examined the first phase of implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE) in both middle and high schools of this school district through surveys of students and teachers, along with students’ Measure Academic Proficiency or Performance (MAP) Test scores in ELA and Math. MAP score data was obtained from 669 students for ELA Growth and 699 students for Math Growth. Survey data was obtained from 70 high school students and six teachers. Student survey …

16 Types Of Listening (Infographic), Cassandra Savukinas

B. The Art of Listening

An infographic based on J.W. Williams' book, Listening Skills Training. Listening is described as Helpful (Attentive Listening), Problematic (Discriminative Listening), or Depends (Critical Listening). Includes short descriptions of each. Two versions of the infographic are in the same file, one with more color and one with less (for using less printer ink).

Sharing Your Science: Special 2025 Edition, Wilson Gonzalez-Espada

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

The Sharing your Science stories were completed as part of a 2025 Science Communication Summer Internship (COMM 647), a collaboration between the Kentucky Academy of Science and the Departments of Engineering Sciences and Communication, Media, Art & Design, Morehead State University, KY. This work was made available as an Open Educational Resource thanks to the Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning, the Camden-Carroll Library, and the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Morehead State University.

Exploring Facilitators’ Experiences Addressing Students’ Needs In A Higher Education Work-Based Engineering Program, Cody D. Mann

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study addresses a critical gap in higher education by examining the unique facilitator position at Iron Range Engineering (IRE), a work-based program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Facilitators are full-time teaching staff in support roles that focus on helping students achieve positive outcomes, such as students successfully transitioning into working professionals. No formal research has been conducted to explore the comprehensive support and overall implications of this role. This qualitative study focused on phenomenography to capture the different experiences of 12 facilitator participants. Data collection was guided by role theory to explore the expectations and perceptions of facilitators, and …

From Enrollment To Graduation: How Social Support Shapes Latino Educational Trajectories In Minnesota, Erick Heaney

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Latino students represent the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, yet their post-secondary completion rates remain significantly lower than those of other student populations. This study explores the educational trajectories of Latino students in Minnesota, focusing on the role of social support networks in shaping persistence and attainment. The research identifies peer and family support as the strongest predictors of Latino students' confidence to graduate (p < .001), underscoring the central role of close personal networks in persistence. Findings suggest that while financial and structural barriers continue to hinder success, culturally responsive support systems can positively influence degree attainment. Although centered on Minnesota, the study offers broader implications for higher education policy and practice, highlighting the importance of targeted interventions and institutional accountability in addressing equity gaps. Strengthening support for Latino students is essential to advancing educational and economic opportunity nationwide.

Exploring The Experiences Of Collegiate Black Female Student-Athletes From A Phenomenological Perspective, Deja L. Jackson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Collegiate Black female student-athletes at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) face a unique experience as they navigate the complex intersections of race, gender, and sports while striving for academic and athletic success. Their encounters with racism, discrimination, and marginalization remain largely underexplored. This research provides findings from a transcendental phenomenological study that examined the lived experiences of these athletes. The goal was to understand how racism, discrimination, and marginalization impact these student-athletes both individually and in context sport. Grounded in social constructivism and informed by Black Feminist Thought and Intersectionality Theory, the study involved semi-structured interviews with eight current and former …

Mapping Learning In Higher Education: The Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit, John Pierce, Mary Beades, Andrew Shields

Publications

The growing diversification of teaching roles in higher education and the siloed nature of semesterised programmes can inhibit quality teaching and learning. This paper introduces the Embedding Content Across Academic Programmes Toolkit (ECAAPT), a practical model for mapping and tracking embedded content across modules, semesters, and years within higher education programmes that can ease the administrative burden of curricular mapping and change on academics teaching in the sector. Originally developed with a focus on tracking student academic literacies, this model has also been adapted and shown value in mapping and tracking other content, such as graduate attributes, feedback, assessment strategies, …

Cultivating Counter-Stories To Deficit Narrative Of Students: A Literacy Problem Of Practice, Amanda Brown

Theses and Dissertations

In urban schools across the United States, literacy outcomes remain inequitable, especially for BIPOC students and those living in poverty. In District 17, the mandate to rigidly implement a purchased curriculum resource reinforces deficit-oriented views of student ability and limits teachers’ professional agency to adjust instruction based on formative data. As a result, instruction becomes disconnected from student needs and identities, further exacerbating literacy inequities.

Guided by Mintrop’s cycle of inquiry, this qualitative study examined how participation in a 90-day inquiry cycle influenced the narratives teachers constructed about their students’ literacy abilities. Kindergarten through third grade teachers collaboratively planned and …

Belonging And The Lived Experiences Of Underrepresented Occupational Therapy Students, Daniel Cezar Da Cruz, Angela Murphy, Zara Mahmood

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Belonging has been explored in research in higher education with a focus on student engagement or performance and the impact of psychological aspects on individuals' learning. Few studies focused on underrepresented occupational therapy students’ belonging. Our research aimed to explore the lived experience of occupational therapy students regarding belonging at university. This phenomenological study was conducted with six occupational therapy students from the United Kingdom who volunteered to participate in semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was carried out through Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA). Three themes were constructed: Theme 1: Representation and belonging - “I was the only non-white person in the …

Demographic Factors As Predictors Of Academic Performance In First- And Second-Year Occupational Therapy Students, Eileen Du Plooy, Daleen Casteleijn, Denise Franzsen, Gopika Ramkilawon

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Significant disparities in academic performance that may be associated with specific demographics can be utilized for supporting diverse student cohorts. Strategies can be developed for students to enhance equity and inclusivity in undergraduate occupational therapy education to ensure student success. This study aimed to determine the predictive demographic factors influencing academic performance among first- and second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students at a university in South Africa. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was utilized, and the sample included 129 first- and second-year students. Data were collected retrospectively from university records and student dashboards. Key demographic and academic variables were analyzed, including personal …

2025 Merc Annual Report, David B. Naff, Jesse Senechal, Paula L. Ogston-Nobile

MERC Publications

This is the annual report of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) at Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2024-2025 academic year. It includes vignettes depicting MERC activities in the past year that align with each of its five principles: research, relevance, rigor, multiple perspectives, and impact. It concludes with a discussion of MERC's commitment moving forward.

Virginia Literacy Act Expansion: Implications For Middle Schools, Candace Bechtold, Joan A. Rhodes, Valerie J. Robnolt, David B. Naff, Kendall Hunt, Jan Collins

MERC Publications

This MERC research and policy review focuses on expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) to include support for middle school students across the Commonwealth. It explores three questions:

1. What were trends in middle school literacy prior to the VLA expansion?
2. What state policies exist for middle school literacy achievement?
3. What does research say about literacy intervention at the middle school level?

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for middle school literacy policy and practice.

Relaciones De Las Competencias Docentes Con El Bienestar En Docentes De Ciencias Empresariales Bajo La Modalidad A Distancia En Una Universidad Privada En Colombia, Camilo Ernesto Aguirre Martínez

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de esta investigación consistió en determinar las relaciones de las competencias docentes con el bienestar en docentes de Ciencias Empresariales bajo la modalidad a distancia en una Universidad privada de Colombia. El estudio buscó identificar las relaciones entre las competencias docentes y el bienestar psicológico, el bienestar subjetivo y el bienestar social, cuáles de esas relaciones predominan, así como la identificación de cuáles elementos de estos tipos de bienestar contribuyen con el desarrollo de las competencias docentes.

El enfoque de la investigación fue el empírico analítico o cuantitativo, el diseño fue no experimental y su alcance fue de …

Student Perceptions Of Campus Facilities And Their Impact On Educational Experience, Steven W. Greenwood

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the perceptions of undergraduate students regarding campus facilities at a picturesque academic institution located in Northern California and explores how these perceptions impact their educational experiences and outcomes. Despite the significant role of physical and technological infrastructure in shaping educational environments, student voices are often underrepresented in the capital renewal process. This study aims to fill this gap by employing a qualitative research approach grounded in empowerment theory and using participatory methods, such as photovoice and semistructured interviews. It underscores the importance of student involvement in facility planning and renewal processes and introduces the research objectives, theoretical …

The Impact Of Stem Self-Efficacy And Sense Of Belonging On Academic Performance For Students Of Color In Introductory Stem Courses, Danyelle Nichole Stokes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study explores the interplay between STEM identity development, race and gender in relation to academic performance in STEM at the beginning of post-secondary education. Statistical analyses of this study included descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests and a multiple linear regression. The quantitative results indicated no statistically significant differences in self-efficacy and sense of belonging scores between White students and students of color. However, participants’ open-ended responses warranted a holistic examination to look for qualitative differences in the STEM identities of students of color and White students. The findings supported existing literature on disparities in support, inclusion and access to …