Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Forward-Looking Academic Impact Rankings For U.S. Law Schools, Matthew Sag

Faculty Articles

Although the very concept of law school rankings is currently under fire, rankings abolitionism is misplaced. Given the number, diversity, and geographic dispersion of the more than 190 law schools fully ac­credited by the American Bar Association, rankings are essential to en­able various stakeholders to make comparisons between schools. How­ever, the current rankings landscape is dire. The U.S News law school rankings rely on poorly designed, highly subjective surveys to gauge "reputational strength," rather than looking to easily available, objec­tive citation data that is more valid and reliable. Would-be usurpers of U.S. News use better data but make other arbitrary …

Exploring Teachers’ Feedback Practices And Its Influence On Students’ Learning In Competency-Based Curriculum: A Case Of A Selected Secondary School In Central Division, Arua City., Anziku Sunday Oyeeson

Master of Education

This study explored teachers’ feedback practices and its influence on student learning in Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in a selected lower secondary school in Central Division, Arua City. The study aimed at exploring how teachers’ feedback impacts on students’ competency development and its related challenges in CBC. The study used a qualitative research approach to engage two school administrators, three lower secondary class teachers and five students through interviews, lesson observations, focus group discussion and document analysis. The data was transcribed using Ms Word, coded using colors and themes derived through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that in addition to written …

Exploring The Influence Of Standardized Assessment As A Tool For Enforcing Teacher Accountability On Teaching And Learning In Selected Public Secondary Schools In Nanyamba Town Council, Mtwara, Charles White Mbunga

Master of Education

This research study aimed to explore the influence of standardized assessments as a means of enforcing teacher accountability in public secondary schools in Nanyamba Town Council, Mtwara region, Tanzania. The study employed a qualitative research approach and a case study design, focusing on two public secondary schools. Purposive sampling, simple random sampling, and stratified random sampling techniques were used to select two heads of schools, ten teachers, and four parents, respectively. Data collection methods included face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. The findings emphasize stakeholders' support for a collective and holistic approach to education accountability, emphasizing the role …

Caregivers' Perceptions Of Covid-19 Educational Disruptions On Children With Developmental Language Disorder And Typically Developing Peers, Katherine Radville, Danika Pfeiffer, Karynn Sheranian, Julie Wolter, Jessie Ricketts, Tiffany L. Hogan

Communication Disorders & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Understanding the experiences of families of children with developmental language disorder (DLD) during COVID-19 educational disruptions is essential for designing responsive supports during pandemic recovery efforts and beyond. This qualitative study describes the experiences of families of first-and second-grade children with DLD during the pandemic as compared to the experiences of families of typically developing (TD) peers.

Method: A conventional content analysis approach was used to analyze caregivers’ written responses to open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of COVID-19 educational disruptions. Responses were analyzed separately by group: caregivers of children with DLD (n= 23) and caregivers of TD children (n= …

Multifaceted Challenges And Opportunities: Concurrent Mixed Methods Research To Investigate Chinese Exchange Students' Experiences In The Us Transnational Online Learning Ecology, Xinyue Ren, Yi Zhou

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Transnational online education has become an emerging trend in promoting academic collaboration and exchange in higher education during and after the pandemic. Guided by the learning ecology framework, we conducted concurrent mixed methods research by distributing an online survey to Chinese students (N=51) to collect quantitative and qualitative data. This helped us deeply understand their experiences and perceptions of a cross-cultural online learning environment in the United States. We applied multiple regression and thematic analysis to analyze the data. The merging of both types of data analysis indicated the confirmation of the importance of discipline-based English learning environments, the transformation …

Teacher Retention: Building Self-Efficacy To Keep Educators In The Classroom, Dawn M. White

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice investigated the impact of professional development with coaching support on a novice teacher’s self-efficacy, with the goal of improving novice teacher retention in an urban district. In Phase 1 of this study, the researcher determined that the problem of practice, novice teacher attrition, impacted students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. In Phase 2, the researcher offered a six-module professional development course, in-person and online, that included classroom management strategies for teachers in their first year of employment. The researcher designed the intervention to include coaching from the novice teachers’ assigned district mentors to support implementation. …

Empowering Parents As Partners In Learning: Practices For Developing A Robust Home Learning Environment, Jennifer L. Bencivengo

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Parents are often considered a child’s first teacher. However, not all parents are equipped with adequate strategies or have access to equitable resources to provide a rich home learning environment for their children. Bodies of research consistently identify discrepancies in kindergarten readiness from a social, emotional, and academic learning vantage point when discussing foundational literacy skills, the overreliance on technology, and developmentally appropriate executive functioning skills (Bassok & Reardon, 2013a; Jung, 2016; Reardon & Portilla, 2016a; Wolf & McCoy, 2019a). In an attempt to address the inequities in school readiness has more recently been examined with focus on community based …

An Improvement Science Dissertation In Practice: Examining The Use Of Professional Learning To Build Capacity For Teachers To Use Practices That Support Sel, Carlos Lawrence

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods study examined the impact of professional learning on the effectiveness of integrating Second Step®, an evidenced-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program that focuses on school climate by promoting bullying prevention and social-emotional skills. Teacher efficacy and classroom culture at a prekindergarten through fifth-grade Interdistrict magnet school in the Northeastern Region of the United States was also explored. Improvement Science, a theory developed by the Carnegie Foundation that focuses on a user and problem-centered approach to improving learning outcomes and teaching, guided this study. Defined outcome measures, including study participants’ completion of surveys, participation in professional learning, classroom …

Fact Book, Academic Year 2023, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Fact Book

The Fact Book presents important campus information in data tables and charts. Included are details regarding students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Generally, data are broken out by college, rank, level, gender, age and ethnicity for both spring and fall semesters, past to present. There are a few academic year tables that include information on tuition & fees, student credit hours by program, and degrees conferred. We wish to thank the many individuals and departments at the University for their contributions to the Fact Book.

Manrrs Advisors And Their Perceptions Of Their Mentor Strategies, Dallas L. Cooks

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences, also known as MANRRS, is an organization with chapters nationwide. Their main focus is to provide professional development, academic advancement, and networking to those in agriculture and related sciences. This research focuses on the advisors of MANRRS chapters across the country and at various institutions. Advisors were asked a series of questions through a Qualtrics survey about their mentor strategies with their students. Chapter Advisors were asked demographic, Likert Scale, and questions based on their personal MANRRS experience. As a result of the data, five research questions were answered. Chapter Advisors and …

The Impact Of Transformational Leadership On Writing Across The Curriculum, Amie M. Wright

Dissertations

This research study examined the relationship between school leadership style and the use of writing across the curriculum (WAC) in secondary classrooms. Writing practices and the use of writing as a form of assessment in subject areas other than ELA is thought to be a way to better prepare students to meet the literacy expectations of the 21st century. For writing practices to be integrated across the curriculum in secondary environments, school leadership support is essential. This study aimed to answer the following questions: How can school leaders in secondary educational settings support writing across the curriculum? What are the …

Toward The Next Generation Of Research In Adult Literacy Instruction, Rebecca Clark-Stallkamp, Barbara B. Lockee

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

In November 2019, the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) from 2017 (Institute of Education Sciences [IES], 2019) depicted no significant change in the concerning status of adult literacy in the US. More than 52% of adults between 16 and 45 scored below functionally literate levels. While shortcomings are attributed to various factors such as high attrition rates in program, ill-conceived policy planning, and more, significant focus is placed on the impact of effective instruction. The study reviews core cognitive component theory experimentation and instructional intervention research in adult literacy to explain contributions and limitations in current …

Factors That Influenced Faculty Satisfaction With Transition To Online Classes During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ramaprasad M. Unni, David Ma Baker, Shantia Kerr-Sims, Mohammad Galib

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The swift transition to remote learning in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic presented substantial challenges for faculty at many universities. This study explores faculty perceptions that influenced their satisfaction with the transition to online classes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenges relating to teaching online classes and the supportive environment provided by the institution had the strongest effects. Other important factors were comfort with online teaching and perceived quality of interactions with students. Teaching experience, tenure status, and other demographic variables had no significant effect on satisfaction with transition to online teaching. Application of lessons learned to future …

The Impact Of Instructional Modality On Student Course Evaluations: A Comparative Analysis, Matthew R. Aldeman, Celeste M. Calkins, Theodore J. Branoff

Faculty Publications – Technology

The fall semester of 2020 brought a range of instructional modalities to university classrooms. Instructors at a large, public institution in the Midwest were allowed to choose between face-to-face, hybrid, online-synchronous, and online-asynchronous formats. The purpose of this study is to examine how students rated the effectiveness of courses using each of these different course instructional modalities. This investigation uses the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test to examine how the distribution of student ratings changed for courses in the fall 2020 semester by using the fall 2019 semester as a baseline. The results show that online-synchronous and online-asynchronous courses received lower …

Effectiveness Of Automated Formative Feedback In An Online Tutorial For Promoting Summarizing, Veronika Barkela, Miriam Leuchter

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

We conducted a study with the aim to investigate the effectiveness of automated formative feedback in improving students’ ability to summarize. One-hundred and thirty-eight undergraduate students in an elementary education program were asked to summarize six scientific texts, with the experimental group (N=87) receiving automated formative feedback in a computer-based learning environment (FALB). FALB provides automated feedback about content coverage, copying words avoidance, redundancy avoidance, relevance, and length. Comparing the experimental group to a control group (N=51), results implied that summarizing skills could be fostered when interacting with FALB. In particular, the automated formative feedback promoted the adherence to the …

Forging Connections In A Digital World: Are Educational Organizations Maximizing Their Position In The Twittersphere?, Ruoxi Qi, Ana-Paula Correia, Chenxi Liu, Fan Xu, Tianqi Li

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to investigate how educational organizations utilize social media, specifically Twitter, to interact and communicate with their audiences. Using text mining techniques, the researchers analyzed messages from top Twitter accounts of educational organizations in the U.S. The study sheds light on which types of messages receive more engagement on Twitter, such as likes, comments, and retweets. Furthermore, the study examines the characteristics of the most popular tweets. The findings of this research provide insights to educational organizations on how to improve their social media strategy for effective communication and audience engagement.

Performance And Perception Disparities In Blended Learning Across Varied Vocational Academic Backgrounds, Yujie Cao, Azhan Abdul Aziz, Wan Nur Rukiah Mohd Arshard

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

With rising popularity of vocational education in China, the study investigates how academic backgrounds influence vocational students’ perceptions and learning outcomes in a blended SketchUp course, guided by Blended Learning framework and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Quantitative data from 71 undergraduate and 71 junior college interior architecture students was analyzed using statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and t-tests. The analysis showed no significant differences between academic groups in academic achievements, but differences in several perceptions, suggesting equitable learning experiences in the blended course. Tutorial videos may have contributed to personalized pacing, reducing variations among learners. Applying TAM to …

Are Assignments And Assessments Necessary? — Influence Of Micro-Course Utilization Methods On Blended Teaching Effectiveness, Jing Zhao, Astri Yulia, Mohamed Ayob Bin Sukani, Rina Abdul Shukor

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The increasing convergence of online and offline teaching methodologies necessitates a comprehensive understanding of how to leverage micro-course resources for optimal educational outcomes. This research investigated the effects of various micro-course utilization strategies on undergraduate design students’ learning outcomes through comparative experiments in blended learning. The objective was to ascertain whether structured learning tasks, assessments provided by instructors, and monitoring of student progress could augment engagement and performance compared to an unstructured approach to micro-course content. A single-factor experimental design was employed, involving two entire classes from the same major over an 119-day period. The study concentrated on the influence …

The Role Of District Superintendents In Technology Integration: A Systematic Review And Framework Synthesis, Ebrahim Azarshab, Mohammad Ghahramani, Mahmood Abolghasemi, Esmaeil Azimi

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The necessity to achieve the catalytic advantages of technology is continuously transforming the traditional roles of district superintendents to align with the digital learning environment. A meta-synthesis was undertaken to identify the roles of district superintendents in technology integration within public school districts and to compare them with traditional roles. This research followed the methodological approach outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The eligibility criteria comprised studies that explored the role of district superintendents in technology integration in public school districts. The data search was carried out in March 2023 across various databases …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Formative Assessment For Students With Disability: A Case Study From India, Anannya Chakraborty, Amit Kaushik

Assessment and Reporting

India has made significant progress in improving the enrolment of students with disability but still has a long way to go before schools can be called inclusive. Despite the widely acknowledged relevance of assessments in shaping teaching and learning practices, little research has been done in disability-inclusive assessment in the Indian setting. In this paper, we explore teachers’ perceptions of disability inclusion in formative assessments, including the use of various kinds of accommodations and adaptations, factors that affect the implementation of disability-inclusive formative assessments, and challenges. It is argued that teacher professional development and teacher–parent partnerships are essential for ensuring …

Empowering Children With Special Needs (Cwsn) In Computer Science: An Interactive Hand Gestures Approach To Number Conversion Teaching, Renjith P.R., Jeeva Jose

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

It is essential for teachers to effectively address the diverse needs of students within the classroom environment, encompassing variations in IQ, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and mathematical proficiency. Ensuring the inclusion of CwSN (Children with Special Needs) is imperative to prevent social division in the classroom. While the department offers accommodations such as scribes, interpreters, or extra time for examinations, these measures may not fully address the specific needs of CwSN. This study explores the efficacy of employing hand gestures as a teaching tool for CwSN in computer science, particularly in the realm of number conversions. A machine learning-based tool …

The Co-Curriculum Of College Student Employment: Perspectives From Supervising Practitioners, Brittany Begley Wildman

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

College student employees are not only serving the overall mission of their institutions, but also developing career readiness skills through daily interactions while at work. In this study, I explore the perceptions of the supervisors of student employees as both managers and student affairs professionals. Through one-on-one interviews with supervisors, discussing their interactions with students, I explore the implicit and explicit curricula they provide to their students using a curriculum analysis framework. I then compare the resulting learning outcomes against those identified in industry standards. The supervisors described supporting student employees' personal development during the student employment experience as well …

De Aquí, Y De Allá: Education, Culture, And Identity Development Of Transnational Latinas, Elizabeth Harris-Medina

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

De Aquí, y De Allá: Education, Culture, and Identity Development of Transnational Latinas This ethnographic case study examines the experiences of three transnational Latina women, descendants of families from Degollado, Jalisco, Mexico, exploring how their migration history and educational backgrounds influence their life trajectories. Focusing on these three women, the study aims to better understand their challenges and inform the development of resources to support their success in the U.S. education system. Using ethnographic interviews and Ecological Systems Theory, the research highlights how places and social systems shape views and life paths, offering insights into how best to support these …

An Exploration Of Misconceptions In Introductory Physics, Christopher Mattthew Wheatley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study of student misconceptions about physics concepts has long been an important area of inquiry in physics education research (PER). The research discussed in this dissertation builds upon the developments in PER by exploring the prevalence of consistently held undergraduate student misconceptions in introductory calculus-based physics. This thesis explores the nature of student misconceptions, mistakes, and naive answering patterns in both introductory undergraduate Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism by applying a network analytic technique called module analysis to student responses to different concept inventories from institutions of various levels of incoming physics preparation. Each study applying these methods also demonstrates …

From Fixed To Growth: How A Mindset Transforms Student Learning, Andrew Fabo

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Placing labels onto young learners, such as “smart” and “gifted,” impacts their brain growth and mental health tremendously; rarely in a positive manner. This way of thinking, formed by separating students into “accelerated” and “normal” categories, can instill what is known as a fixed mindset of learning. Believing that there is no room to grow, or being afraid to make mistakes, largely due to the impact of these labels, learners quickly become less likely to attempt more challenging tasks; as well as persevere through difficult obstacles. Through extensive research within the Akron-Summit County Public Library, The University of Akron’s Bierce …

Needs Assessment – National Repository For Nsf Agep Deliverables, Christie Sahley, Megan Sapp-Nelson, Donna Ferullo, Linda Mason, Hanzi Xie

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This white paper proposes the establishment of a National Repository for NSF Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) Deliverables to address the critical need for preserving and sharing a wide array of materials generated from the AGEP program. Recognizing the challenges of ephemeral storage solutions and the absence of a unified collection mechanism, the paper underscores the repository's role in promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) research. It emphasizes the importance of accommodating diverse data types, enhancing discoverability, and ensuring long-term access to educational materials, policy documents, and research outcomes. Through a comprehensive approach, the proposed repository …

Diverse Minds, Shared Planet: Designing, Assessing, And Adapting Curricula To Engage Diverse Learners With Their Environment And Inspire Positive Change, Mallory Rose Lampe

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

The pieces that compose this portfolio together explore how environmental education can connect diverse learners to their environment through the integration of accessible curricula to inspire stewardship and action to take care of the planet we share.

Enhance Students’ Learning Outcomes By Redesigning Individual Learning Activities Into Group Activities For Introductory Level Physics Courses, Kalani Hettiarachchilage, Neel Haldolaarachchige

Publications and Research

The evolution of science education is a dynamic process driven by advances in pedagogy, technology, and especially, our understanding of how students learn. Educators are exploring innovative teaching and learning methodologies such as active learning, incorporated technology, interdisciplinary approaches, flipped classrooms, personalized teaching, and many more. The goal of all these evolving methodologies is to empower students with not only a strong foundation in scientific knowledge but also with the skills and mindset required to thrive in the future world. By adopting these innovative approaches, educators can help students become effective problem solvers, critical thinkers, and life-learning citizens. Our focus …

Training Underrepresented Minority Students For Careers In Public Health Leadership – Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program, Jigsa Tola

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Background: Shortage and lack of diversity in the United States public health workforce is well documented and remains a challenge to meaningfully improving the health of the population. Although the diversity of the public health workforce has implications for access, care quality, and career opportunities in low-income communities, there is no strong mechanism by which minorities are trained to replenish the workforce. Morehouse College’s Public Health Leaders Fellowship Program (MC-PHLFP) is a cooperative program with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to train undergraduate students for careers in public health leadership.

Purpose: The purpose of this research is …

Exploring Black Queer Doctoral Student Experiences With Utilizing Campus Services, Mitchell Everett

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study utilized narrative inquiry to examine the experiences of Black Queer Doctoral Students (BQDS) with campus services and their ability to ameliorate minority stress and establish community with other students minoritized by their sexual or gender identity. I used the minority stress model and intersectionality as frameworks to understand how students minoritized by their race and sexual identities experienced campus services. The minority stress model provided an explanation of the stress BQDS may experience due their minority identity (Meyer, 2003, 2013). Connecting to community is also an ameliorating factor in reducing minority stress. In addition, structural intersectionality addressed the …