Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Ethical Dilemmas Of Generative Ai In Education And Their Implications For Sdg 4: A Systematic Review From A Global And Inclusive Perspective, Eva García-Beltrán

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This systematic review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, examines the ethical dilemmas associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in education and analyses their implications for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), with a focus on inclusive and equitable quality education. The review draws on 24 peer-reviewed studies published between December 2022 and December 2024, covering diverse educational levels and geographical contexts, with a predominance of Global North perspectives and limited representation from the Global South. The analysis reveals four primary themes: academic integrity, algorithmic equity, data privacy, and the potential contribution of …

Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions Towards Using Ict With Dialogic Teaching In The Primary Science Classroom In Saudi Arabia, Yousef Alharbi, Sue Johnston-Wilder

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study examines the implications of teachers’ perceptions of using ICT to support dialogic teaching in primary science classrooms in Saudi Arabia. It employed questionnaires distributed electronically to science teachers working in state primary schools in Riyadh, and 305 completed responses were analyzed using SPSS. The majority were found to implement a variety of activities to support dialogue and to use several ICT tools in their science lessons. In addition, most teachers reported positive attitudes toward ICT, dialogic teaching, and ICT-supported dialogic teaching in science lessons. However, the results indicated that some teachers currently adopt a dominant role in dialogue …

Application Of Artificial Intelligence In Case-Based Teaching: A Qualitative Study In Mba Education, Tianjiao Xu, Mohd Nazir Bin Zabit

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study examines the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into case-based teaching (CBT) within Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in China, amidst the rapid digital transition in higher education. Guided by the Context–Input–Process–Product (CIPP) evaluation framework, the study adopted a qualitative design and conducted semi-structured interviews with five instructors from three core MBA courses. The findings indicate that AI enhanced classroom interaction and reduced teachers’ workload by supporting real-time feedback and dynamic discussion processes. Institutional support, including teacher training, digital infrastructure, and technical assistance, was recognized as a vital facilitator of effective implementation. Despite its various benefits, the study …

Exploring Pathways To Persistence And Self-Efficacy Among Historically Underrepresented Community College Students: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Sharmy Rene Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Research indicates that postsecondary institutions have struggled to retain historically underrepresented college students. These students continue to experience lower levels of persistence and college self-efficacy compared to their peers (Monjaras-Gaytan & Sánchez, 2023).

This dissertation is a mixed methods action research study that identified the academic challenges historically underrepresented college students face. This study focused on diagnosing the problem, engaging in multiple Reconnaissance phases, and using those findings to plan a contextually responsive intervention.

Findings indicate that historically underrepresented college students may benefit from enhanced academic support, stronger advising relationships, and greater opportunities to build peer connections. The findings of …

Enhancing International School Implementation Capacity: Supporting Contextualized Learning At An International Baccalaureate School In China, Christopher J. Hayden Iv

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International schools allocate substantial resources to implement progressive curricular innovations; however, the advantages offered by these developments are contingent on their effective execution within classroom settings. This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined the implementation of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Context (GC) Strategy in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at an international school in China and asked how the school might strengthen its capacity to enact this and similar innovations. Following a sequential MMAR design, a reconnaissance phase combined a whole-staff survey (n=87) with qualitative interviews to diagnose the individual, organizational, and contextual factors shaping implementation. Analyses identified …

Academic Departments As Microfoundations Of Institutional Governance, Karley A. Riffe, Meghan J. Pifer

Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation Faculty Publications

Considerations of governance in US higher education do not typically include the academic department. This results in a knowledge gap about the role of these central organizing units of academic work in the governance of colleges and universities. Through the concept of microfoundations, we explore concrete ways in which departmental governance matters, how it may be challenging, and strategies for fostering effective governance within academic departments.

The Impact Of Rti On Ninth Grade Reading Success, James Dailey

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Graduation rates are an important component of a school’s progress report card, published by the state’s department of education.  Ensuring that students have the resources and supports that they need in order to be successful is paramount to a school’s ability to provide quality educational services for their students.  Research published by the Center for High School Success (2020) indicates that students entering their freshman year of high school are twice as likely to drop out of school for being academically behind compared to their peers. For students to receive the support that they need to help them close their …

Academic Growth From Preact To Act: The Influence Of Socioeconomic Status And Attendance In A Rural Alabama High School, Stacy L. Tinch

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine academic growth from the PreACT to the ACT among students attending a rural public high school in Alabama and to investigate whether socioeconomic status (SES) and attendance were associated with differences in that growth. Guided by Opportunity-to-Learn Theory, the study explored whether students demonstrated academic growth during high school and whether SES, attendance, or the interaction between these variables influenced growth outcomes. Archival student-level data were collected from four graduating cohorts. The final sample consisted of 384 students with complete records for PreACT scores, ACT scores, attendance, and socioeconomic status. …

Transforming Florida Chemistry Education: Exploring Information Literacy Strategies From Singapore, Han N. Le

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study explores the applicability of Singapore’s information literacy (IL) strategies within Central Floridian higher education environments. Singapore’s national IL framework, supported by its Ministry of Education, integrates information and communication technology (ICT), professional development, and lifelong learning initiatives through a standardized, systemwide approach. In contrast, IL instruction in the United States is largely decentralized, often limited to one-time sessions or elective courses. To investigate the feasibility of adapting Singapore’s practices, surveys were distributed to faculty and librarians across Florida’s twelve public universities, yielding responses that highlighted varying levels of IL integration, limited institutional support, and minimal professional training related …

Redefining Educational Technology: A Critical Collaborative Inquiry, Aras Bozkurt, Helen Crompton, Robert Farrow, Agnes Kukulska-Hulme, Jon Dron, Richard West, Agnieszka (Aga) Palalas, Matth Bower, Junhong Xiao, Ahmed Tlili, Danah Henriksen, Angelica Pazurek, Henk Huijser, Thomas K. F. Chiu, Petar Jandrić, Katy Jordan, John Curry, Royce Kimmons, Mutlu Cukurova, Thomas Reeves, Gwo-Jen Hwang, Peter Shea, Jason Lodge, Martin Weller, Davy Ng, Tutaleni Iita Asino

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Educational technologists have not settled on a fixed definition of the field and likely never will. However, attempting to define the field helps to understand the epistemological meanings that shape what the field sees, values, and considers worth pursuing. Through a critical historical review spanning over a century, alongside theoretical engagement with the concepts of entanglement and distributed agency, this paper identifies three key insufficiencies in current educational technology frameworks. These are the persistence of an instrumental-facilitative paradigm that treats technology as a resource deployed by human agents; the theoretical dissolution of the pedagogy-technology dichotomy that existing definitions have not …

The Retrograde Pendulum: Reversing Course On Standards-Based Grading, Jay C. Percell

Faculty Publications - College of Education

This commentary details one large, suburban school district that, after a decade-long commitment to implementing standards-based grading (SBG), reversed course, abandoned the initiative, and returned to traditional grading. This article provides a postmortem of the ambitious reform effort, drawing upon previous research and recent district survey data from teachers and parents. Among the factors leading to the reform's reversal are that, despite a carefully planned, multi-year rollout, the initiative was unable to resolve persistent concerns about implementation inconsistency, student motivation, and the technology reporting platform. Internal pressures were exacerbated by external turmoil, including personnel turnover and the COVID-19 pandemic, and …

2026 Merc Annual Report, David Naff

MERC Publications

This is the annual report of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) at Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2025-2026 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.

Ai Policy In Virginia Public Schools: A Comparative Analysis, Jesse Senechal, Jamelle Simmons, Jonathan D. Becker, Melissa Ware, Michael Broda, Kindy Anderson, Eric Byers, Kiana Bradford, Thea Racelis, Meleah Ellison

MERC Publications

This MERC research and policy review explores policy implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in Virginia public schools. It is part of a two part series with a companion report focused on AI implications for PK-12 teaching and learning. The report has two parts:

1. A review of the AI policy landscape around PK-12 education
2. Virginia AI policy analysis

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for PK-12 policy and practice.

Ai In Pk-12 Education: Implications For Teaching And Learning, David Naff, Meleah Ellison, Casey Bailey, Tzu-Wei Wang, Kiana Bradford

MERC Publications

This research and policy review from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) explores the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning in public PK-12 education. It is part of a two part series with a companion report focused on AI implications for PK-12 policy. The report explores two questions:

1. How is AI shaping teaching and instructional practice?
2. How is AI shaping student learning and development?

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for PK-12 policy and practice.

Early Stem Impressions, Student Engagement, And Readiness For Digitalization, Myron Sheu

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

This study examines how early impressions of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) shape business students’ learning behaviors and, ultimately, their readiness for organizational digitalization. Focusing on gender differences, subgroup identities, and perceived obstacles, the analysis uses survey data processed through correlation matrices, regression models, and subgroup heatmaps to trace the relationship between initial attitudes toward STEM and subsequent engagement patterns. The findings reveal consistent links between positive early impressions and active participation in structured STEM activities, along with gender-based distinctions in action preferences. Subgroup analyses further uncover nuanced patterns where stereotypes or perceived barriers correspond with reduced engagement. Collectively, …

The Acquisition Of English Proficiency By English Language Learners In The Elementary Grades: An Event History Analysis, Elisabete Sousa

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

It is important that educators develop a deeper understanding of the process by which English Language Learners (ELL) acquire English proficiency. This hypothesis-generating event history study followed 285 Grade K-5 ELLs in a suburban public school district in New York State. Its longitudinal component used Kaplan-Meier techniques to provide a descriptive foundation and then conducted discrete-time event history analyses using binary logistic regression to create parametric life tables, analyze the effects of dual-language instruction and other factors, and estimate transition times between proficiency categories and overall. The cross-sectional component employed ordered logistic regression to analyze selected effects on classification into …

Measuring Academic Momentum: A Quantitative Study Of Supplemental Instruction As A Community College Student Support Strategy, Cornelia Slater

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

MEASURING ACADEMIC MOMENTUM: A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

STUDENT SUPPORT STRATEGY

Cornelia Vanessa Slater, Ed.D.

Department of Counseling and Higher Education

Northern Illinois University, 2026

Quortne R. Hutchings, Director

Community colleges serve as critical access points to higher education for diverse populations of students where completion rates are an ongoing challenge. Supplemental Instruction have been used as an academic intervention to improve success largely in four-year institutions. This quantitative study, guided by Xueli Wang’s momentum theory analyzed two research questions: (1) how supplemental instruction (SI) participation is associated with student academic success, course retention …

Deep Search In K–12 Education: Opportunities, Risks, And Research-Literacy Imperatives For Ai-Enabled Classrooms, Steven Baule, Dillon Martinnez

Essays in Education

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) deep search tools, such as ChatGPT’s Deep Research, Google’s Gemini Deep Search, Perplexity Research, Claude’s extended search, and emerging academic engines like Elicit and Consensus, are reshaping the ways students and educators locate, evaluate, and synthesize information. These tools promise to democratize research and reduce barriers to high-quality sources, particularly in K–12 environments where time, instructional capacity, and access to resources vary widely. However, recent analyses reveal significant challenges: inaccuracies, opaque algorithms, hallucinated facts, and inconsistencies across platforms. Using classroom-relevant examples and controlled experiments, including ambiguous historical searches and complex educational policy queries, this article examines …

An Examination Of The Impact Of School Accountability On Data-Driven Decision-Making By Florida Educational Leaders, Emily Galucho

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This mixed-methods study examined how accountability influences educational leaders' data-driven decision-making (DDDM) practices in Central Florida. Grounded in the principal-agent and consequential accountability frameworks, the study investigated demographic predictors, implementation challenges, and the role of accountability in DDDM. Educational leaders completed online surveys measuring DDDM perceptions across five subscales and responded to open-ended questions. The responses were analyzed through multiple regression, correlation, and thematic coding.

Accountability emerged as DDDM's strongest predictor, significantly exceeding demographic and organizational variables. Five implementation challenges were identified: Data Literacy Gaps, Data Timeliness Issues, Resource Constraints, Implementation Fidelity, and Systemic Barriers. Accountability demonstrated dual effects: many …

A Follow Up Metal Detecting Survey At The Blue Licks Battlefield Resort State Park, Adrian Mandzy

Faculty Research at Morehead State University

In March and April 2008, faculty and students from students from Morehead State University’s History program, along with members of the Battlefield Restoration and Archeological Volunteer Organization (BRAVO) conducted a survey of the Blue Licks Battlefield. Previous studies of the battlefield suggested that the area had been adversely impacted by modern development and that little or no resources connected with the events of 1782 remain. As a result of the 2008 survey, we were able to establish the precents of artifacts related to the events of 1782.

At the end of the 2008 field work, additional testing was called for, …

Post-Secondary Participation And Graduation, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Ian Teo, Amanda Haddow, Daniel Edwards

Higher education research

This systematic review examines systems and institutional policies impacting Higher Education (HE) and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sectors globally. Specifically, it seeks to address the impact of access, participation, retention, and graduation policies, and support the development of the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2026 by responding to equity and inclusion challenges, and alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4 targets.

Setting Standards For Engineering Writing. Supplementary Information [Data], Hidden For Review

Higher education research

We present an approach to defining minimum standards of written communication for engineering graduates based on the evaluation of writing samples by industry personnel. Communication skills are widely recognised as core graduate capabilities; however, universities often lack explicit, evidence-based standards aligned with industry expectations. This study applies the borderline group method of empirical standard setting to elicit judgement from industry professionals who supervise graduate engineers. Participants evaluated samples of student writing in two common engineering genres, technical report executive summaries and emails, using dichotomous acceptability judgements supported by evaluations of structure, content and expression. We present a validated framework, supported …

Students’ Perceptions Of The Value And Challenges Of Oral Assessment In An Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Programme, Alexa M. Andrew, Rachel Sayers, Kristy Richards

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Oral assessments are used in undergraduate occupational therapy programs to facilitate students’ ability to articulate their professional reasoning in relation to a case scenario. Oral assessments are seen by assessors/lecturers as crucial preparation for fieldwork placement. Oral assessments are known to provoke anxiety among students. The aim of this research was to explore students’ perspectives of the value and challenges of the oral assessment. The method was qualitative and focus groups and individual interviews were used to collect data. Thematic analysis of the transcripts was conducted using a semantic approach. Four themes emerged as a result of the data analysis: …

The Ecology Of Hope: Building Rainbows In Education Systems, Jennifer Achari

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hope is frequently invoked in education, yet rarely theorised. Where it has been theorised, it has been understood in two largely separate ways: as an individual psychological capacity, in the positive-psychology tradition and as a critical-emancipatory stance, in the pedagogy of hope. This article proposes a third: a theory, the ecology of hope, that locates hope not in the individual alone but in the relationship between a person and the systems that surround them. Bringing the cognitive psychology of hope into dialogue with ecological systems theory, the social-ecological account of resilience, and utopian methodology, in which a better society is …

The Global Onboard Training Programme (Gobt) : A Comprehensive Review, World Maritime University

Reports

A stable supply of qualified seafarers is a critical component of the global maritime logistics industry, which relies heavily on maritime transportation. According to the 2021 BIMCO Manpower Report, an additional 89,510 officers will be needed by 2026. In 2021 alone, there was already a deficit of 26,240 STCW-certified officers, clearly indicating that demand continues to outpace supply. The report also noted a 45.8% increase in the number of female seafarers since 2015, although they still represent only a small share of the overall workforce. Maritime Education and Training (MET) institutions around the world continue to provide training to develop …

Perspectives Of Rural Educators On The Dependencies And Drawbacks Of Chat Gpt In Nigerian Higher Education Practices, Adedayo Olayinka Theodorio Dr, Francisca Jumoke Theodorio, Olumide Gbenga Olugbodi, Peter Adebowale Samson, Olusegun Olawale Olakotan

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

ChatGPT remains a valuable tool for transforming teaching strategies and supporting students’ comprehension of subject matter. However, its adoption and research remain uneven within the context of higher education in Nigeria. Specifically, there is limited empirical research that exemplifies real-world experiences regarding the dependencies and drawbacks in rural educational settings. This qualitative single-case study explored this phenomenon at a southwestern institution in Nigeria, involving a purposively selected group of educators. Data were gathered through participatory observation and focus group interviews, which were thematically analysed. The results indicated that the effective use of ChatGPT in rural higher education heavily depends on …

Academic Integrity In The Age Of Ai: A Student's Guide To Citation And Disclosure, Steve Baule

Essays in Education

The rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped academic work, creating new opportunities for learning while introducing complex challenges for maintaining academic integrity. This article presents a clear, practical three question framework to help students determine when and how to disclose AI use in their coursework. Grounded in principles of transparency and intellectual honesty, the framework consists of three guiding questions addressing AI‑generated content, meaningful process support, and purely mechanical assistance. Through detailed explanations and real‑world scenarios, the article clarifies distinctions among these categories and outlines appropriate citation and disclosure practices for each. It emphasizes that AI use …

Teaching Effectiveness On Secondary Mathematics: Evidence From Pisa—Shanghai-China, Ting Shen

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Educational researchers and policymakers around the world have a strong interest in understanding the underlying reasons for the remarkable academic achievement of Chinese students in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Although teachers have a significant impact on student achievement, empirical evidence on teaching effectiveness in the Chinese education system has been scarce. This study uses the PISA 2012 Shanghai-China data and employs both multilevel models and quantile regression models to investigate effective teaching factors and their differential effects for students at different mathematics achievement levels. The results reveal the importance of cognitive activation and disciplinary climate as consistent, …

Guidelines For Automatic Grading Of Student Essays Using Large Language Models, Diwakar Yalpi, Sruta Keerti Kasula, Ravi Mukkamala

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Automated essay evaluation using large language models (LLMs) has emerged as a promising approach to support scalable and consistent educational assessment. However, the effectiveness of LLM-based grading varies significantly across evaluation dimensions and is highly influenced by prompt design and model selection. In this study, we evaluate five state-of-the-art LLMs across five rubric-based categories: Relevance to Question, Reasoning and Critical Thinking, Evidence and Examples, Organization, and Clarity and Writing Quality. We systematically investigate the impact of three prompting strategies, including rubric-only prompting, exemplar-based prompting (with and without rubric guidance)(Original and Refined prompt designs) incorporating structured instructions. Additionally, a prompt ablation …

From Deference To Dialogue: How International Gtas From High Power Distance Cultures Adapt To U.S. Classroom Dynamics, Deborah Akua Afi Appiah

Theses and Dissertations

International graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) from high power distance cultures play a significant role in undergraduate education at U.S. universities, yet they face challenges that go well beyond language proficiency. Coming from educational backgrounds where teacher authority is unquestioned and hierarchical, these GTAs must navigate American classrooms that operate on fundamentally different assumptions, where authority is earned rather than assumed, informality is the norm, and students expect to question, negotiate, and be personally known by their instructors. The present study examined how eighteen (18) international GTAs from seven (7) high power distance countries perceived and adapted to these differences while …