Educational Methods Commons^™

Making Lab Manuals For Optimizing Student Engagement And Learning, Carlos Perez, Andrea Bautista Rocha

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Through the Engineering Possibilities in College (EPIC) program, high school students explore various engineering majors offered at Cal Poly. Survey reports filled out by students reflect areas of growth for the program and the engineering labs that they participate in. We expanded on this feedback by creating an effective lab manual based on the student feedback, aiming to optimize student engagement and learning.

Unsupervised Visual Chain-Of-Thought Reasoning Via Preference Optimization, Kesen Zhao, Beier Zhu, Qianru Sun, Hanwang Zhang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Chain-of-thought (CoT) reasoning greatly improves the interpretability and problem-solving abilities of multimodal large language models (MLLMs). However, existing ap proaches focus on text CoT, limiting their ability to lever age visual cues. Visual CoT remains underexplored, and the only work [35] is based on supervised fine-tuning that relies on extensive labeled bounding-box data and is hard to generalize to unseen cases. In this paper, we introduce Unsupervised Visual CoT (UV-CoT), a novel framework for image-level CoT reasoning via preference optimization. UV-CoTperforms preference comparisons between model generated bounding boxes (one is preferred and the other is dis-preferred), eliminating the need for …

Active Learning: Eight Models That Shape Instructional Practice, A.E. Dreyfuss, Ana Fraiman, Karmen T. Yu

Publications and Research

Developed since the mid-20^th century, several instructional models have provided practical means to shift the emphasis in learning from lecture to engagement by students. The snapshots of models presented in this paper include Cooperative Learning, Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Supplemental Instruction (SI) (also PALS, PASS), Team-Based Learning (TBL), Emerging Scholars Program (Mathematics Workshop, MathExcel), Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL), Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), and Learning Assistants (LA). These models have been well-disseminated, widely adopted, and incorporated in disciplines beyond their origins. For purposes of exploration and consideration of implementation, these “snapshots” provide an overview. Features of each model are …

Challenging The School Boundaries: Exploring Challenges And Opportunities In Homeschooling Engineering Education, Luis Montero-Moguel, Cynthia Lima, Guadalupe Carmona, Verónica Vargas-Alejo

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Homeschooling sparks controversy regarding the quality of education when compared to the traditional schooling system. However, homeschooling rates have doubled nationwide since the pandemic, especially among minorities. Funding and curricular material resources may be limited for homeschooling families, especially those from diverse backgrounds. Therefore, this essay discusses the need to expand the current boundaries of engineering education to include homeschooling communities. Drawing from our homeschooling experience, we present three recommendations that respect the cultures and unique characteristics of homeschooling to promote engineering practices in these communities. Our proposal challenges negative perceptions of homeschooling, enhancing our understanding of its unique characteristics …

Better Together: Including Students In High School English Language Arts Course And Curriculum Design, Katelin E. Held

Doctorate in Education

This qualitative action research study examined how having students cocreate secondary English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum alongside teachers influenced student engagement and ownership of learning and staff attitudes toward cocreation. Conducted in a Midwestern U.S. public high school ELA department, the study involved four student and four educator participants, all of whom engaged in restorative-style focus groups with a larger number of students and teachers to collaboratively generate ideas for new course offerings. The study students and adults then participated in small-group semi structured interviews. Data were collected through audio-recorded group discussions, individual interviews, and researcher memos and were analyzed …

10 Things We Love/Hate About Ai For Writing Instruction, Jenelle Williams, Katherine Cottone, Brian Dalton

Michigan Reading Journal

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the educational landscape, its role in writing instruction elicits both enthusiasm and apprehension among educators. This article, “10 Things We Love/Hate About AI for Writing Instruction,” explores the complex dynamics of integrating AI tools into the teaching of writing. Drawing from classroom experiences, educator reflections, and student interactions, it highlights the benefits of AI—including personalized feedback, increased writing fluency, and support for diverse learners—while also acknowledging concerns such as diminished student agency, ethical implications of authorship, and overreliance on automated systems. By presenting a balanced perspective, the article invites educators to critically examine how …

Do Our “Window And Mirror” Books Leave Shards Of Broken Glass?, Brianne R. Pitts, Jill Hermann-Wilmarth

Michigan Reading Journal

In this article the authors apply Bishop’s (1990) windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors as an analytical framework that, along with critical literacy practices, can be used to enhance the social studies and literacy instruction. The stories we share in elementary classrooms teach students about their future possibilities. As teacher educators, we wondered about our students and our complacency with powerful ideas from foundational scholars in literacy and education. Using Bishop’s (1990) metaphor as an analytic tool, students’ critical disciplinary literacy projects are assessed for future instructional goals, leaving readers with eight practical tools for classroom instruction and critical assessment …

Teaching Molecular Genetics Using Paramecium And Rna Interference: Research-Based Learning And Project Ownership, M. S. Valentine, K. Johnson, M. B. Veramendi, C. James, J. Kozak, A. Patwardhan, R. Quartey

Montclair State University Scholarship & Creative Works

Research-based course design is beneficial to both the instructor and the students by providing project ownership, independence, increased engagement, and publishable results. Paramecium, a single-celled eukaryote, is a common organism observed in many high school and college classrooms that can be easily cultured and manipulated to navigate through guided student-driven research projects. Presented here are research-centered student projects that include designing and creating an RNA interference (RNAi) plasmid to deplete a gene product in Paramecium. Because RNAi can be used in a large number of model organisms, the techniques presented can be applied in a variety of ways. …

Qualitative Content Analysis: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners To The Method, Theories, Epistemology, Ontology, And Rigour, Ingela Bohm, Joachim Sundqvist

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative content analysis (QCA) is a flexible method of analysis, applicable within many epistemologies and on many kinds of data. This makes it suitable as a general introduction to qualitative methods, but students and other beginners sometimes have trouble grasping the associated concepts and ways of thinking. To facilitate their first foray into this new territory, we propose a five-step process of QCA that does not presuppose any foreknowledge of concepts such as levels of abstraction or what coding and categorizing can look like in practice. In our step-by-step guide, we also depart from some staples of QCA, such as …

Hands-On Stem In Ghana: Inspiration For Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Globally, Alhassan Issifu, Mawuena A. Hanson, Heather R. Beem

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Many educators are increasingly seeking culturally relevant pedagogies they can employ to effectively engage their students. In Ghana a substantive set of hands-on STEM content has been created, incorporating locally available materials and cultural approaches while maintaining alignment to the national curricula. Against a backdrop of almost no public primary or junior high schools in the country containing any lab equipment, this approach leverages and celebrates the abundance of what is available within the locality. This challenges narratives of what is considered “good” and recenters power back with those in the classroom. Three sample activities and three firsthand stories are …

Artificial Intelligence And Collaborative Learning: Impacts On Creativity, Critical Thinking, And Problem-Solving, Abderrahim Agnaou, Hayat El Asri

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The rapid development of large anguage models (LLMs) has sparked growing interest in their potential to transform education. This study explores how LLMs influence collaborative learning, focusing on student creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collective intelligence. Specifically, it investigates whether artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted group work enhances or hinders these aspects of the learning process. We used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data from surveys, structured interviews, and analysis of student project outputs. We collected data from 102 undergraduate students via questionnaires and 15 follow-up interviews, which offered deeper insight into their experiences using LLMs in team-based projects. The …

مدى تضمين قيم التسامح والسلام في كتب التربية الإسلامية للمرحلة الثانوية بدولة قطر, Mamduh M. Ashraah, Hailah M. Al Qahtani

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدفت الدراسة الكشف عن مدى تضمين قيم التسامح والسلام في كتب التربية الإسلامية للمرحلة الثانوية بدولة قطر، ومحاولة تقديم تصور مقترح. وذلك باتباع المنهج الوصفي، وأعد الباحث استمارة تحليل المحتوى، وقد تناول الباحث تحليل جميع كتب التربية الإسلامية للمرحلة الثانوية للصفوف العاشر والحادي عشر والثاني عشر للفصلين الأول والثاني، طبعة العام (1445-2023) ومن أهم النتائج التي توصلت لها الدراسة: أن أكثر قيم التسامح الواردة في كتب التربية الإسلامية للصف العاشر والحادي عشر والثاني عشر كانت (الالتزام) وأقلها (المروءة). وان أكثر قيم السلام الواردة في كتب التربية الإسلامية للصف العاشر كانت (كف الأذى) وأقلها (العفو). وأكثر قيم السلام الواردة في كتب …

Framework Integration In Academia: Moving From Theory To Practice, Lori B. Doyle, Kara S. Bratton, Timothy Young, Catherine Webb, Cari A. Chittick, Heather L. Vezner, Rebecca A. Stanton, Tanya M. Tarbutton

Journal of Organizational & Educational Leadership

Character education has been a point of focus and research in K-12 education dating back to the 1990s. The work of integrating a character-forward framework in higher education is now considered a beneficial and impactful practice. One university has successfully completed the initial work of integrating a servant leadership framework in the School of Education using an approach in line with the community of practice model. The authors of this paper work together and have each played a key role in not only the early stages but the ongoing phases associated with maintaining and improving. This theory-to-practice article begins with …

Copyright Information

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Publication rights to works is granted to Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities, however, full copyright for works published in this journal is retained by the author(s). The author(s) may post their works online in an institutional repository, on their University departmental website, or on their own personal websites.

Utilizing Generative Ai To Counter Learner Groupthink By Introducing Controversy In Collaborative Problem-Based Learning Settings, Andrew Wiss, Mary Showstark, Kyle Dobbeck, Jennifer Pattershall-Geide, Elke Zschaebitz, Dawn Joosten-Hagye, Kirsten Potter, Erin Embry

Montclair State University Scholarship & Creative Works

This article highlights the foundational challenge of rapid interprofessional student team formation and the potential challenges that groupthink poses for newly-formed teams participating in collaborative problem-based learning activities. This article describes a mixed-methods study that addresses groupthink by introducing a generative artificial intelligence-based agent (genAI agent) into the small group processes of student teams engaging in a session of a well-established virtual interprofessional education methodology. The integration of this novel genAI tool into each student team was an intentional pedagogical technique, introduced in response to the challenges that newly-formed student teams may encounter as they rapidly come together and potentially …

Stand For Support, Shatter The Silence: Administrative Approaches To Eradicate Bullying In Higher Education, Elaine M. Mora, Shawn P. Saladin

Journal of Research Initiatives

Bullying in higher education has become a widespread and complex issue that affects staff, faculty, and students worldwide, causing a detrimental impact on both psychological health and academic achievement. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the phenomenon, encompassing all its manifestations, underlying causes, and significant consequences. The study, which draws on academic literature, outlines the various forms of bullying, including cyberbullying, mobbing, microaggressions, and social exclusion, and highlights the adverse effects these behaviors have on both individuals and academic communities. The research emphasizes how critical it is to comprehend the power relationships that exist in higher education settings and …

Exploring Design-Based Research: Enhancing Methodologies For Educational Innovation, Awang Najib Awang Mohamad, Zaimuariffudin Nordin, Mohd Hafizan Hashim

Journal of Research Initiatives

Design-based research (DBR) has proven to be a robust methodology for transforming educational practice through a systematic cycle of analysis, design, development, and real-world implementation. Its distinctive strength lies in fostering close collaboration between researchers and educators within authentic learning contexts, producing design principles and theories that are deeply responsive to local needs. This paper presents a critical and comprehensive examination of the three core phases of the McKenney and Reeves (2012) generic DBR model, illustrating how it integrates rigorous inquiry with practical problem-solving. It also introduces Sandoval's (2014) concept of conjecture mapping as a strategic tool for aligning theoretical …

Teachers' Perceptions And Readiness For Ai Integration In Under-Resourced K-12 Classrooms, Valerie Riggs

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study explores how educators from under-resourced schools, who participated in an AI Summer Research Institute hosted by a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), perceive the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in their classrooms. Using both quantitative data from post-survey responses and qualitative reflections from virtual interviews, the study examines how teachers anticipate AI will influence their teaching strategies and student engagement, and what long-term benefits or concerns they associate with AI integration. The findings indicate that while teachers are optimistic about AI's potential to enhance engagement and personalization learning, they also express uncertainty regarding its long-term impact and …

From Chatbots To Thought Bots: Teaching And Learning In The Age Of Ai, Stephen J. Mcconnell

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Dr. Stephen McConnell’s keynote address took place on Friday, October 18, 2025, at the 82^nd Annual NYSCA Conference. In this personal but scholarly discussion, Dr. McConnell explores how various AI technologies do more than “assist” us – they also socialize us. He describes and explains several case studies that were part of his course at New York University entitled “Communications and AI,” and provides us with ten principles for teachers and students to become active participants with the tools of AI.

Dr. McConnell is a media scholar whose research focuses on the intersection of AI, digital communication platforms and …

Liberated Learning Spaces: A Visual Playlist, Tarilyn R. Little

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Liberation can be defined as “the act of setting free” or “being free from limits on thoughts and behavior.” Both an action and a state of being, liberation has long been centered as a key function of education, particularly for those who live in historically and systemically marginalized identities. Despite the long-standing existence of liberation-focused pedagogies and activism aimed at transforming schools and students’ lived experiences, educational institutions in the United States have struggled to live out these ideals, often sustaining and replicating systems and practices of oppression. Drawing on historical and contemporary conversations in education and psychology, Liberated Learning …

Challenges In Providing Equitable Education For Primary School Students With Learning Disabilities In Zimbabwe: Teachers’ Experiences., Joyce Madzinga

Dissertations

This study examines the challenges primary school teachers in Zimbabwe face when supporting students with learning disabilities (LDs). Many learners with LDs are excluded from adequate classroom support due to systemic, cultural, and resource limitations. Learning disabilities are often under-recognized as compared to other disabilities because they are invisible. Raising awareness and empowering educators are crucial steps toward addressing these hidden needs and ensuring they are recognized and met. Six teachers were interviewed using a qualitative ethnographic approach. Findings reveal obstacles, including insufficient training in special education, limited teaching resources, high pupil-teacher ratios, negative societal attitudes, and poverty-related constraints. Additional …

Learning How To Interview For Qualitative Research, Kathryn Roulston, Brigette A. Herron, Caprial Farrington

The Qualitative Report

A key component of qualitative methods coursework has been the interview assignment, which typically prepares scholars to conduct in-person, individual, and open-ended interviews. This study examined what novice researchers did and learned during an interview assignment in an introductory qualitative methods course. Interview transcripts and reflections from 12 graduate students who enrolled in an online or face-to-face section of the course were analyzed. Findings review students’ reflections on the process of conducting the interview project, beginning with the preparation phase, what they discussed concerning how the interviews transpired and their experiences of the transcription process. The article reports on how …

Medical Students Trained In Emotional Intelligence Seem To Be More Apprehensive Of Artificial Intelligence In Healthcare, Austin P. Runde, Shambhavi Mishra, Marina Feffer, Ramzan Shahid

School of Medicine

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is becoming increasingly widespread. While AI has been touted to reduce burnout and improve outcomes, its potential to undermine the doctor-patient relationship has been recognized. It is not known what future physicians believe regarding AI in healthcare and whether formal training on emotional intelligence and resilience (EIR) affects their opinion. Our medical students were asked to anonymously and voluntarily complete a 12-item survey regarding the potential impact of AI on the doctor-patient relationship (IRB #219038). Results were summarized as means and standard deviations, stratified by whether students did (EIR⁺) or …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Principals On The Impact Social And Emotional Learning Has On Student Academic Performance, Angela Mastantuono

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of principals in examining the social and emotional learning skills of middle school grades sixth-eighth and if there is an impact on student academic achievement. The theories that guided this study were Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, as they are grounded in explaining the need for social and emotional learning integration into the classroom and how to successfully achieve this. Both theories discuss the positive impact that socialization has on the development of any human being. The central research question was, “What are the lived …

Educational Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Doctor Of Health Sciences Programs, G. Zipp, Christina B. Gunther, Douglas Kuperman, Jill Moore, Lori Rainchuso

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained increased attention in higher education with the identification of several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats regarding its utility. The aim of this study was to ascertain how doctoral programs in health sciences utilize AI as academicians and instructors.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to all Association of Doctoral Programs in Health Science (ADPHS) members on the mailing list (n=51), with n=19 (37.3%) voluntarily responding.

Results: The findings revealed both enthusiasm and caution regarding the use of AI in doctoral health sciences education, reflecting similar broader trends identified in the literature. Despite institutional …

Retention Of Evidence-Based Practice Skills And The Association Between Beliefs, Behaviors, And Workplace Culture, Angela M. Lis, Lauren Snowdon

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Guidelines for teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curricula have been published. There is limited evidence on the role of workplace culture in retaining these skills in entry-level clinical practice. This study evaluated the retention of self-perceived EBP skills, and the association of EBP beliefs and behaviors with cultural readiness once graduates join the workforce.

Methods: Two cohorts of DPT students completed a baseline questionnaire at graduation and a 12-month follow-up. Participants’ beliefs about EBP, implementation behaviors, and the organizational culture to support EBP were assessed using short versions of the EBP beliefs, implementation, …

Periodic Evaluations Indicate Increased Effectiveness Of Oregon Master Woodland Manager Volunteer Program, Alicia Christiansen, Lauren Grand, Norma Kline, Tiffany Hopkins

Journal of Extension

The Oregon State University Extension Service Master Woodland Manager (MWM) volunteer program trains landowners in core forestry and natural resource topics. Landowners participate in the MWM program to increase their forest management knowledge, improve their own management practices, and prepare them to volunteer in their community (Bowers, 2000). We surveyed MWM volunteers to understand the effectiveness of the program and what barriers exist to volunteering. Volunteers find the program to be increasingly adequate for personal management and answering questions, but time continues to be the biggest barrier for completing required volunteer hours.

Exploring 360 Immersive Videos And Tours In Extension Landscape Design Workshops, Margaret C. Hoffman

Journal of Extension

Immersive 360 technologies are increasing equity and inclusion, learning motivation and engagement of students in many educational disciplines. Extension stakeholders could also benefit from the use of this technology in educational settings. The affordability and ease of use adds a tool to the Extension repertoire to interest and engage stakeholders in the digital age. Surveys were conducted in two green industry workshops after the use of 360 immersive technology to determine the technology’s effectiveness and participant perceptions. Participants reported a positive response when assessing the technology as a learning tool and for ease of use.

Effects Of A Wellness Program On Perceived Stress And Occupational Balance With Occupational Therapy Students, Sean M. Brim, Kristian Llaca, Arlenys Loffredo, Jacqueline Achon, Marcia Hamilton

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Abstract

Occupational therapy (OT) students often experience elevated stress and burnout due to the demanding nature of their academic programs, which can negatively affect their occupational balance and overall well-being. Promoting student wellness is essential to supporting both academic success and mental health. This quantitative pilot study examined the effects of a wellness program on perceived stress and occupational balance among graduate OT students in Southern Florida. Participants attended one of four structured sessions—Prioritization, Organization Strategies, Mindfulness Training, or Yoga—and completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) before and after each session. Data was collected from …

De/Colonizing Education Research With Lessons From The Field, K. Kayon Morgan

Feminist Pedagogy

Academia is a reproductive site of settler colonialism (Mayorga et al., 2019) with practices and systems that exclude diverse identities. For universities to become more inclusive spaces, we must dismantle colonialist ideologies. One way is to consider alternative research approaches (Smith, 2021). This paper presents narratives from lessons in the field of research and teaching. The narrative encourages faculty and students to disrupt the status quo and normalize de/colonized research approaches in academia (Bhattacharya, 2021).