Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Teacher Practice Improvement Tool. Preliminary Version, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

School and system improvement

Research shows the profound impact teachers can have on student outcomes. The Teacher Practice Improvement Tool (TPIT) describes the practices of highly effective teachers, based on an extensive review of international research. Five domains—or aspects of practice—have been identified from this evidence. These areas of teachers’ work are strongly interrelated. The TPIT provides a point of reference for teachers to reflect on their current practices and identify areas for professional growth. This tool can be used for teacher self-reflection and to identify specific areas for further professional growth. The TPIT can also be used by aspiring teachers and other education …

Community-School Partnerships In Action: Exploring Student Needs, Outcomes, And Perceptions In A Communities-In-Schools Program In North Texas, Teresa Vega Uriostegui

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which elementary students’ characteristics and educational backgrounds were associated with their identified need of academic, behavioral, and social service supports, and how these factors were associated to students’ end-of-year outcomes, as in improvement related to the support services they received. In addition, the study aimed to explore students’ perceptions of their satisfaction with and experiences of the integrated support services provided through the CIS program. This study, conducted in three Title 1 public elementary schools in suburban North Texas, included 306 students in grades PreK through 5^th. …

2024-2025 Continuous Improvement, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Assessment Center Reports

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

Exploring Rubrics And Ai, Beth Bailey

Faculty Publications

In the evolving landscape of educational assessment, rubrics have long been considered essential tools that bridge the gap between subjective evaluation and objective measurement of student performance (Bean, 2011). As educational institutions increasingly embrace digital learning environments, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in rubric development can represent a significant advancement in assessment methodology. This paper explores the fundamental principles of rubric design, examines various types of rubrics, and investigates how AI tools can enhance the creation and implementation of effective assessment instruments.

The importance of clear, consistent, and fair assessment cannot be overstated in educational contexts. Rubrics serve …

Investigating The State Of Graduate Education In The Philippines: Challenges, Opportunities, And Policy Implications, Anne K. Candelaria, Eric Arthur N. Dio, Jovelyn G. Delosa

Political Science Department Faculty Publications

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the graduate education sector, revealing that it is highly privatized, NCR-centric, and dominated by enrollment in Education and Business/Administration fields. The analysis confirms that the primary driver for this high demand, particularly in teacher education (which accounts for over half of all enrollment), is the use of graduate degrees as a key requirement for career advancement and promotion within agencies like the Department of Education (DepEd). This policy-driven demand, however, is linked to systemic issues, including the proliferation of “diploma mills” that undermine quality, extremely low on-time completion rates (averaging 18.77% for Master’s …

Pairwise Comparison Method Toolkit. A Toolkit For Countries To Measure Global Learning Outcomes., United Nations Educational, Scientific And Cultural Organization (Unesco), Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Global education monitoring

This toolkit has been co-authored by the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Centre at the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics (UIS). ACER provides technical support to the UIS, which has been mandated to monitor the progress of countries towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) in education to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” (United Nations, 2021). The GEM Centre sponsors and contributes to public goods and activities that facilitate education systems reporting against SDG 4 in a …

Art Teams Grant Report Year 4, Guy Trainin, Kimberley D'Adamo, Hyeonjin Yoon, Azadeh Hassani, Zohreh Tamimdari, Jiabin Lyu, Michael Nti Ababio, Sarah Trainin

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

Year Four of the Art TEAMs grant was designed to continue the professional learning for cohort two while following cohort one to measure implementation sustainability. Our second cohort of educators is excited about the program. It brings great diversity in art forms, including five ceramics teachers, a digital media teacher, and generalists from career and technical education and family and consumer science. This diversity of teaching domains helps illustrate the versatility and impact of the arts across K-12 curricula. We have revamped our professional learning curriculum and the process of learning from the educators who take part in the program. …

Evaluating Experiential Learning In Undergraduate Agricultural Education: A Content Analysis Of Course Syllabi From A College Of Agriculture, Tyler Newberry

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This study evaluated the presence and depth of experiential learning within undergraduate course syllabi from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. Through a content analysis of 41 syllabi across five academic majors, the study examined how course objectives and assignments aligned with Kolb’s Experiential learning cycle (1984), Webb’s depth of knowledge (1997), and Joplin’s Mini to maxi Scale (1981). A structured coding instrument was used to quantify the frequency of learning elements across these three frameworks. The findings revealed that Abstract Conceptualization and Reflective Observation were the most common stages in both objectives and assignments, while Concrete Experience …

Cct College Teaching, Learning And Assessment Strategy 2024-2027, Cct College Dublin

Strategy Documents

CCT's Institutional Strategic Plan in respect of Teaching, Learning and Assessment effective from 2024-2027.

Public Values Of Higher Education, Kelly M. French

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

Higher education has demonstrable value for individuals and our collective society. The primary outcomes of higher education have been focused on supporting democracy, preparing an educated workforce, and ensuring economic success. Policy makers, higher education advocates, and the public have debated the role of higher education as both a public and private good. This study applied a public values framework to higher education to ensure the goals and expectations for universities remain focused on the collective good. The purpose of the study was to identify and define the public values of higher education through a case study approach that combines …

Accessible Extracurriculars Without Teacher Exploitation, Makenzie Wrightstone

West Chester University Master’s Theses

The research explores how extracurricular activities support holistic development and address barriers, especially for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or with disabilities, using social reproduction theory and educational philosophies. It highlights how extracurriculars foster cognitive, social, and emotional growth but are often inaccessible due to financial, logistical, and instructional challenges. The study also examines teacher burnout and dehumanization, providing a historical view of extracurriculars in American schools, analyzing current policies, and considering how technology impacts student engagement. It proposes a transformative framework combining adventure, place-based, and transformative learning, advocating for integrating activities into school hours to enhance access, equity, and …

2025 Alumni Survey, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Assessment Center Reports

Alumni Survey reports produced by the SWOSU Assessment Center.

Neurodivergent Students And Higher Education: Barriers, Challenges, And Supporting Measures, Courtney Tricarichi-Funk

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

When neurodivergent students attempt to go to colleges and universities, they often face barriers in accessing higher education and encounter challenges post-admission. This study explores what measures higher learning institutions can develop and implement to make postsecondary education more accessible and less challenging for neurodivergent students by answering the following questions: • What barriers do neurodivergent students face when planning to access higher education? • What challenges do neurodivergent students encounter in higher education after they are admitted? • What measures can be developed and implemented to help neurodivergent students access and succeed in higher education? To address these questions, …

Teacher Practice Improvement Tool: A Summary Of The Underpinning Research, Fabienne Van Der Kleij, Marijne Medhurst, Michelle Lasen, Christina Rogers, Pauline Taylor-Guy

School and system improvement

In 2025, ACER published the Teacher Practice Improvement Tool (TPIT), as part of its family of improvement tools. A comprehensive review of international research was undertaken to inform the development of the TPIT, which resulted in the inductive development of five inter-related domains that holistically capture the practices of highly effective teachers. This document summarises the research evidence underpinning each of the five domains of the TPIT, drawing on a review of 102 studies. While recognising the interconnections between domains, it presents a structured narrative of key evidence and research-informed considerations for each domain. This summary offers a high-level overview …

Effects Of Active Learning In An Undergraduate Physiology Class Using Hands-On And Simulation Labs, Ainsley C. Frayer

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Increasing student engagement has shown positive effects on students and can be achieved by incorporating active learning strategies in the lab. Currently, the undergraduate human physiology lab at Missouri State University utilizes simulations to practice physiological concepts. The proposed project aims to evaluate if incorporating hands-on labs would improve student learning and/or their engagement. The hypothesis is engagement will be increased in hands-on labs, but grades will not differ significantly, based on previous literature. Three simulations were replaced with hands-on lab software to evaluate engagement and learning. Student engagement was assessed using a voluntary, anonymous survey. Exam average scores were …

Factors Related To Teachers’ Behavioral Intention To Continue Using Digital Game Based Learning To Teach Arabic, Hassan Alhashimalsayed

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the factors related to teachers’ behavioral intention to continue using digital game-based learning technology inside the classroom and how teachers perceive such tool to facilitate the process of teaching. The purpose of this case study was to investigate how the attitudinal factors of the UTAUT model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence) and background factors (gender, age, teaching experience, educational level, teaching rank, and extent of DGBL integration) predict teachers’ behavioral intention to continue using a digital game-based learning technology in their teaching to improve their performance in teaching Arabic language to Saudi students. The study …

Rapid Response Survey #3: Determining The Training Needs Of Child Nutrition Professionals, Keith Rushing Phd, Rd, Ruaa Al-Juboori Phd, Mackinsey Shahan Phd

Institute of Child Nutrition, Applied Research Division

Child nutrition professionals must continually develop knowledge and skills to meet evolving program regulations, nutrition standards, and operational demands. This study examined the training needs and preferred training delivery methods of school nutrition and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) professionals across the United States.

Using a two-phase research design, researchers conducted a literature review, expert panel review, survey development, and national survey administration. A total of 777 child nutrition professionals, including school nutrition directors, managers, staff, and CACFP personnel, participated in the study. Respondents identified high-priority training topics and preferred methods for receiving training, including in-person, live virtual, …

Finding Belonging: The Search For Comprehensive Measurements Of Student Belonging In Math, H. Colleen Sinclair, Katie Bainbridge, Andrew R. Burns

Reports

This report provides the background, methods, and findings of Phase One of the development of a new instrument to assess belonging in math. It includes a review of existing instruments, their evaluation, and integration. It also includes findings from a panel about perceptions of belonging in school-aged students. Contents include: 1) a comprehensive definition of belonging, 2) a listing of existing belonging instruments, 3) a multidimensional breakdown of belonging that accounts for context and perspective, 4) a list of belonging items from existing scales that met coder face validity assessments, and 5) a definitionally grounded recommended set of belonging items …

2025-2026 Common Data, Morehead State University. Institutional Research & Analysis.

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis Publication Archive

2025-2026 issue of the Common Data.

Teaching Social Marketing Concepts Through Prosocial Behavior Lenses, Bela Florenthal

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This study investigates the educational value of a prosocial project embedded in a college-level marketing course. Framed through a humanistic and holistic lens, the initiative integrated acts of kindness (AOKs) to engage students in real-world application of social marketing concepts. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through student reflections and surveys, revealing high levels of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral engagement. Students developed empathy, compassion, and self-awareness, reinforcing the importance of integrating experiential learning into business education. The project also addressed AACSB’s emphasis on societal impact and aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by promoting emotional well-being and civic …

Full Issue

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Teaching Students To Be Resilient: A Campus-Wide Approach, Connie Horton, La Shonda Coleman, Brad Dudley, Stacey Lee Gobir, Sergio Gallardo Palma

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

In response to escalating mental health concerns among college students, Pepperdine University developed the Resilience- Informed Skills Education (RISE) program to equip students with resilience skills. The biblically sound and research-based curriculum focuses on six dimensions: physical, social, cognitive, spiritual, service, and life skills. All first-year students learn resilience skills through the RISE small-group program. Numerous additional opportunities are made available, including resilience coaching, a resilience interest living community, lunch and learns, a yearly summit, a podcast, a newsletter, and a variety of engaging campus programs. Student leaders have been key to the positive response to RISE, as have partnerships …

The Anxious Generation: How The Great Rewiring Of Childhood Is Causing An Epidemic Of Mental Illness, Aaron J. Howell

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

No abstract provided.

Application Of Fuzzy Logic For Evaluation Of Student Performance, M. Tomovic, C. Tomovic, V. Jovanovic, S. Bawab

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The evaluation of student performance is a multifaceted process that traditionally relies on rigid grading systems, often failing to capture the complexity of student abilities and learning dynamics. This paper explores the application of fuzzy logic to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of student performance evaluation. By leveraging fuzzy logic principles, such as membership functions and linguistic variables, we model and assess the various factors influencing student performance—ranging from academic grades to engagement, participation, and personal learning styles. The approach allows for the representation of imprecise, uncertain, and subjective data, offering a more holistic view of a student’s progress. We …

Assessment Of Initial Teacher Education From The Evaluated’ Perspective: A Literature Review, Carla E. Förster, Andrea Ruffinelli, Tatiana Cisternas, Francisca Donoso

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Many quality assurance policies for teacher education are linked to the assessment of their training and although this is widely studied, the subjects’ perspectives have not been taken into consideration. This study sought to answer: how do the subjects perceive these education assessments and how do those assessments influence their training? A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) search was conducted, rendering the selection of 12 articles. The results indicate that the studies incorporating the subjects' opinions were limited to two instruments: the edTPA from the United States and LANTITE from Australia. Both the performance-based format (edTPA) and the measurement of literacy …

Chinese Secondary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Teacher Candidates' Teaching Ability And Performance, Liyuan Chen, Chia Ching Tu

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

: This study investigated secondary school teachers' beliefs about teacher educators’ teaching competencies and performance. Additionally, it compared the differences between the perceived importance of teaching competencies and the teaching performance level among teachers from different backgrounds. The Delphi method was first used to identify teaching competency items followed by a questionnaire survey to collect data from secondary school teachers in Hebei Province, China. Out of 700 questionnaires that were sent out, 539 valid questionnaires were returned. Secondary school teachers were highly aware of the importance of teaching competencies but did not possess these competencies. An importance-performance analysis (IPA) showed …

Understanding The Challenges And Satisfaction Among The Medical Professional Preceptors, Cornelia Ko

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

This study evaluates the Penn Medicine Family Medicine Clerkship program through a mixed-methods approach, exploring the challenges and factors influencing the satisfaction of medical professional preceptors when precepting students. A quantitative survey with 54 preceptor participants reveals the top challenges preceptors face: workload, conflicts with patient care, and limited clinical space. Despite this, there is strong support for the program, with 89% of preceptors enjoying the role and 85% expressing willingness to continue to precept for the next three years. Finally, data analysis shows no statistical correlation between preceptor motivation with gender, ethnicity, age group, years of serving, or total …

Bridging Language Barriers: How Secondary Teachers Support English Language Learners In The Classroom, Mason Daniel Smith

West Chester University Doctoral Projects

English Language Learners (ELLs) represent a growing student population in U.S. secondary schools, yet many educators feel underprepared to support their unique needs effectively. This mixed-methods study examines how Pennsylvania high school teachers approach the teaching of ELLs, focusing on their self-efficacy, instructional decision-making, and strategies for fostering an inclusive classroom community. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, data was collected through surveys from a limited group of 40 high school educators followed by in-depth interviews with three participants. Findings revealed that while teachers express a strong desire to support ELLs, they often experience uncertainty and frustration due to …

Improving Onboard Training For Deck Cadets : An Analysis Through The Lens Of Learning Theories, Yusuke Mori

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

As a critical component of skill development and identity construction for prospective seafarers, onboard training has played a central role in Maritime Education and Training (MET). Each Maritime Education and Training Institution (METI) implements distinct onboard training arrangements based on its environmental, socio-cultural, and historical context, as well as the learning theories that inform its approach. However, the absence of a rigorous examination of the factors influencing national variations in onboard training creates challenges in establishing legal norms at the international level. Furthermore, the literature has identified a wide range of issues and challenges in the implementation of onboard training, …

City Tech Openlab Oer Checklist With Help Links, Andrew Mckinney, Bree Zuckerman, Cailean Cooney

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.