Higher Education Commons^™

“Always Having To Dampen And Dilute My Essence In Order To Fit”: Intersectional Experiences Of Queer Scholars Of Color In Stem And Stem Education, Nuria Jaumot-Pascual, Lisette Torres-Gerald, Maria Ong

The Qualitative Report

This article examines the intersectional experiences of queer scholars of color in STEM and STEM education. Using arts-informed research methods, we conducted and analyzed five interviews and a focus group transcript that focused on the support and hurdles that five participants encountered and the strategies they utilized to navigate their work in STEM and STEM education. We identified that, against the backdrop of prevailing heteronormativity and normative whiteness in STEM, participants compartmentalized their STEM and social identities, felt compelled to negotiate the risks of coming out, and assumed the double burden and invisible work of students who were queer and/or …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Effectiveness Of Virtual Reality And Augmented Reality-Based Simulation On Healthcare Students' Learning-A Review Of The Literature, Matthew Mills

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Simulation is increasingly used to supplement authentic clinical experiences in preparation for future healthcare students. However, the most realistic simulation experiences are frequently costly, time-intensive, and difficult to scale, especially for programs with budgetary restrictions. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have been proposed as easily scalable tools to provide students with a realistic simulated environment. However, as technology is rapidly evolving, there is a need to understand the evidence surrounding VR and AR's impact on healthcare student learning to optimize the deployment of these technologies and justify the costs associated with implementation. Methods: A review of the …

National Physical Therapy Examination Scores From 2023 And 2024 Cohorts In The United States, Richard Cahanin, James W. Farris, Tara Andrews, Preston Warren, Jennifer Patterson, Shawn Drake, Barry Dale

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This study aimed to determine which student academic performance variables within physical therapy education programs most strongly predicted NPTE scores. Methods: A prospective, multi-institutional cohort study with 228 doctoral physical therapy students representing the 2023 and 2024 cohorts was conducted. Hierarchical multiple linear regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to evaluate research hypotheses. Results: No significant difference in NPTE scores between the 2023 and 2024 cohorts was found (p = .936). A streamlined model identified 2-year DPT GPA (p < .001), total PEAT score (p = .004), and total GRE score (p = .046) as the most significant …

Does Relevant Work Experience Influence Academic Success? A Retrospective Study Of Doctor Of Physical Therapy Students, Nicole Tombers, Kate Corrigan, Rylee Kwiatkowski, Gwinna Remillard, Morgan Scanlon, Maddy Soderberg

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Relevant work experience is a factor considered in holistic admissions practices of many health profession education programs. The benefits of observation hours on student career choice and subsequent academic success have been explored. Many programs additionally consider paid work experience as a factor in admissions decisions; however the influence of relevant work experience on academic outcomes is unknown. This study examined relationships between paid physical therapy related work experience and performance in a DPT program. Method: Data from 945 applicants resulting in 191 matriculants to a single DPT program were included. Employment history for all applicants was coded as …

The Effect Of Debriefing Following A Computer-Based Low-Fidelity Simulation On The Self-Efficacy Of Health Professions Students: A Randomized Cross-Over Control Study, Matthew Mills, Enrico Gandolfi, Richard E. Ferdig, Kimberly Peer

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Simulations have been increasingly used in health science education to supplement clinical experience. There is evidence of the benefits of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) with debriefing, but HFS is costly and time-intensive to administer. Low-fidelity simulation (LFS) has been proposed as an alternative that is easier to scale and more cost-effective; however, the evidence surrounding its impact on students is mixed, possibly because debriefing is frequently omitted in LFS. Methods: A randomized experimental mixed methods cross-over control study was performed to evaluate the impact of a structured debriefing session following an interactive computer-based low-fidelity simulation on the self-efficacy and anxiety …

Institutional Prestige And Prerequisite Performance As Predictors Of Academic Success In Doctor Of Physical Therapy Programs: A Pilot Retrospective Cohort Study, Margaret Wicinski, Tamala Marcin

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: This pilot study examined relationships between Carnegie Classification levels of undergraduate institutions, prerequisite anatomy and physiology (AP) performance, and academic success in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed records from 83 students who graduated from a single DPT program in 2019. Data included Carnegie Classifications of prerequisite institutions, undergraduate anatomy and physiology grade point average (UGPA AP 1&2 GPA), first-term pathophysiology course grade (Patho GPA), and Doctor of Physical Therapy program grade point average (DPT GPA). Statistical analyses included Spearman rank order correlation (rs) and Kruskal-Wallis tests with effect size calculations. Power analysis …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Beliefs Of Beginner Pedagogical Researchers About Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis, Kálmán Sántha

The Qualitative Report

This paper explores how computer-assisted qualitative data analysis appears in the beliefs and practical work of beginner researchers. The paper outlines the advantages of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis for beginner researchers, identifies the problems that may arise during this process, and discusses the topics where software capable of analysing multi-coded data can be utilised. The investigation was conducted through structured interviews. The text corpora were processed using a combined method that incorporated theory-driven deductive and data-driven inductive processes.  The following were discussed: advantages and problems with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis, and topics where software for analyzing qualitative data can be …

Psycholinguistic Factors And Technology Appropriation In Efl Learning: An Instrumental Case Study, Marlon Vanegas Rojas, Claudia María Uribe Hoyos

The Qualitative Report

This instrumental case study described the psycholinguistic factors related to technology appropriation and language learning among English as a foreign language university students in Medellín, Colombia. Conducted at a private university’s language department, the 64-hour English course combined traditional and digital teaching methods with 22 participants from diverse undergraduate programs. Employing maximum variation sampling, the study captured perspectives across age, gender, technology appropriation, academic performance, and cultural background. Data collection included interviews, a technology appropriation self-perception survey, language proficiency tests, and classroom observations. Using the analytical framework of Miles et al. (2014) the analysis revealed that students relied on digital …

The Current - Volume 36 Issue 6, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Negotiating Tradition And Modernity: An Ethnographic Study Of Leadership And Collaboration In Acehnese Islamic Higher Education, Basri Basri, Mujiburrahman Mujiburrahman, Mohammad Nasir, Muhammad Nazar

The Qualitative Report

This ethnographic study explored the relationship between State University Institutes (SUIs) and Ulama Dayah (Islamic scholars) as mutual co-existing beneficiaries in an Islamic educational organization in Aceh, Indonesia. While the relationship is characterized by a shared commitment to Islamic education, tensions simmer regarding leadership styles and the balance between tradition and modernity. This study is guided by the following research questions: (a) How do SUI leaders in Aceh perceive and manage the inherent tensions between upholding Islamic values and adapting to contemporary demands? (b) How do these leaders reconcile the potentially competing expectations of religious and secular stakeholders? (c) How …

Nsu Florida Undergraduate Student Catalog 2025-2026, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

University Lecturers' Narratives On Teaching Esl Online: An Ethnomethodological Study, Marlon D. Sipe, Jean A. Saludadez

The Qualitative Report

The shift to remote teaching during the pandemic has influenced the way the lecturers teach English as a Second Language (ESL) at Asian universities. Studied through the lens of ethnomethodology which focuses on understanding what the lecturers do in the face of pandemic, this investigation was conducted to answer the following research questions: (1) What are the ESL teaching practices of the University lecturers during the pandemic? (2) How do these practices accomplish ESL learning among students? In this study, the teaching practices of the participants constitute the meaning that explains how learning takes place. Three lecturers from three Asian …

Nsu Business Graduate Student Catalog 2025-2026 Winter 2026 Edition, Nova Southeastern University

Huizenga Postgraduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Metacognition On College Readiness And Persistence, Michael L. Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined the influence that metacognition has on college readiness and its most traditionally used metrics: performance-based outcomes and persistence. Specifically, this study addressed to what degree underlying metacognitive structures differ between college students’ successful metrics of performance and persistence compared to a more general sample of college students.

The research characterized metacognition along three domains of analysis: (a) selfefficacy/ motivation, (b) soft skills/psychological capital (Psycap), and (c) expected value of control (EVC). The quantitative study included 54 college students and a crosssectional design. Participants completed a four-part Likert-style survey, where their responses were measured along the three …

La Enseñanza En Línea Para Superar La Deficiencia En El Aprendizaje De La Biología En Estudiantes Del Primer Año De Una Universidad En Puerto Rico, Sergio Medina Ríos

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación aplicada se desarrolló a partir de una preocupación concreta observada por el investigador en su trayectoria como educador universitario en Puerto Rico: la dificultad persistente de los estudiantes de primer año para comprender conceptos fundamentales en biología. Muchos de estos jóvenes ingresan a la universidad con lagunas formativas que limitan su aprovechamiento académico, especialmente en disciplinas científicas que demandan razonamiento crítico y conceptualización abstracta.

Frente a esta realidad, el estudio propuso la implementación de estrategias de enseñanza en línea como respuesta pedagógica a dicha deficiencia. Con base en la experiencia adquirida en la impartición de cursos virtuales, se …

Percepciones De Los Terapistas De Habla Y Lenguaje En La Colaboración Con Maestros De Sala Regular Sobre La Alfabetización De Estudiantes De Nivel Elemental En Las Escuelas Públicas De Puerto Rico, Karma Marrero Torres

Theses and Dissertations

El propósito de este estudio fue conocer el entendimiento que poseen los Terapistas del Habla y Lenguaje (THL) respecto a sus roles y responsabilidades como proveedores de servicios a estudiantes con impedimentos del lenguaje. De igual forma, identificar qué nivel de experiencia y conocimiento brindan los THL durante el proceso de colaboración al establecer metas y brindar alfabetización en el salón de clases y en la terapia e indagar cuáles eran las percepciones de los terapistas del habla y lenguaje con respecto a la colaboración con los maestros al brindar alfabetización a estudiantes con desórdenes del lenguaje.

Para esta disertación …

Effect Of Employees’ Breakfast Choices On Energy Levels In The Hispanic Population Working In Healthcare In South Florida, Jennifer Rivas

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the effect of employees’ breakfast choices on perceived energy levels among Hispanic healthcare workers in South Florida. As breakfast consumption has been widely associated with cognitive function, productivity, and metabolic stability, this research focused on understanding how specific breakfast patterns influence daily energy in a population that plays a critical role in regional healthcare delivery.

A qualitative survey was developed by the researcher and was used to collect data from Hispanic employees working in a variety of healthcare settings. Participants completed a structured survey assessing breakfast habits, nutritional quality, frequency of consumption, and …

Instructional Systems Design In Lesson Planning For Substance Use Treatment Groups: A Mixed Methods Exploratory Study, Michelle Robin Gould

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored lesson planning for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment groups, investigating the presence of components from the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) instructional systems design (ISD) process in routine facilitator lesson planning practices. Using an exploratory mixed-methods convergent parallel design, data were collected via an online survey featuring closed- and open-ended questions regarding self-reported planning activities and perceived effectiveness. Quantitative analysis confirmed that SUD facilitators perform tasks associated with all five ADDIE phases. Qualitative findings showed that facilitators perceive themselves as effective planners despite logistical and organizational constraints. However, facilitators do not appear to conceptually link instructional …

El Liderazgo Escolar En La Reconstrucción Educativa: Estrategias Para Mitigar El Impacto De Desastres Naturales En Escuelas Secundarias, Marisol Pardo Morales

Theses and Dissertations

Los terremotos ocurridos en Puerto Rico en enero de 2020 tuvieron un efecto devastador sobre el sistema educativo, particularmente en el municipio de Guánica, donde la destrucción de escuelas secundarias interrumpió la continuidad del aprendizaje y generó un marcado rezago académico. Este contexto crítico reveló la necesidad de explorar el papel del liderazgo escolar en la mitigación de las consecuencias de los desastres naturales sobre el rendimiento y la motivación estudiantil. El propósito de esta disertación aplicada fue analizar cómo las prácticas de liderazgo ejercidas por directores escolares influyen en la recuperación educativa de estudiantes en escuelas secundarias con ofrecimiento …

The Implementation Of Small Group Direct Instruction For Reading Domains Of Second- Grade Students, Tarmeka Smith-Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation explored how implementing small-group direct instruction in an elementary school setting affected the reading performance of second-grade students. The study examined how organized small-group direct instruction can elevate students’ reading achievement in phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Over a six week instructional period, a mixed-methods research design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data.

Pretest and posttest students’ reading assessments were collected using quantitative data, while teachers' weekly reflections and surveys were collected using qualitative data. A total of 30 students identified as struggling readers, and three second-grade teachers who implemented small-group direct instruction participated in …

The Interaction Between Academic Self-Efficacy And Social Support: Exploring Moderation Effects On Academic Performance And Emotional Well-Being During The Transition To Secondary School, Luis Josué Ortiz Martes

Theses and Dissertations

The transition to secondary school can intensify academic demands and emotional strain, making it a critical context for examining students’ psychological and social resources. This applied dissertation examined whether perceived social support (SS) moderates the association among academic self-efficacy (ASE), academic performance (AP) and emotional well-being (EWB) among seventh-grade students at a private, multilingual school in Puerto Rico. Using a time-lagged, nonexperimental correlational design, 14 students completed the academic subscale of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C) and the Social Support Appraisals Scale (SS-A) at the start of the academic year; EWB was assessed at midyear with the Negative and …

Relación Entre El Liderazgo Situacional En Directores Escolares Y Nivel De Competencias Digitales Integrando Los Estándares Iste-El En Escuelas Ore Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Mayra Enid Rodríguez Romero

Theses and Dissertations

Esta investigación examinó la relación entre el liderazgo situacional en directores escolares y el nivel de competencias digitales, integrando los Estándares ISTE para Líderes Educativos (ISTE-EL) y la Teoría de Liderazgo Situacional, en escuelas del sistema público pertenecientes a la Oficina Regional Educativa de Arecibo, Puerto Rico, durante la pandemia del COVID-19. El estudio surgió ante la necesidad de comprender cómo los directores escolares respondieron a la transición abrupta de un modelo educativo presencial a uno virtual en un contexto caracterizado por limitaciones estructurales, tecnológicas y organizacionales. Se empleó un diseño cuantitativo de alcance descriptivo-correlacional, con una muestra de 30 …

Kindergarten Through Third-Grade Teachers’ Experiences With State-Level Literacy Coaching Support: A Phenomenological Qualitative Research Study, Nicole Hunter

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative applied dissertation was designed to provide insight into the experiences of kindergarten through third-grade general education teachers when supported by state-level literacy coaches. State-level literacy coaches are assigned to specific elementary schools and offer embedded professional development and professional learning opportunities to enhance literacy instruction and promote professional growth among elementary teachers. Although many kindergarten through third-grade general education teachers in literacy support schools see state-level coaching support as beneficial, some teachers deem this support as punitive and are reluctant to collaborate with coaches.

Teachers' experiences with literacy coaches have been viewed as a component in the …

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy: Its Role In Maximizing Students’ Performance On Standardized Tests, Keisha Ricketts-Martin

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to highlight the importance of pedagogy for cultural responsiveness, and to explore the relationship between such pedagogy and middle school students’ performance on state or standardized tests. Therefore, this study explores the educational or academic values that students will gain from being engaged in a learning environment that recognizes their culture and uses it as a tool to maximizing their educational outcomes.

This research employed convergent parallel mixed method design. Therefore, it implemented the qualitative and quantitative approach at the same time and placed equivalent worth to the information collected by each approach. Therefore, the …

Análisis De La Relación Entre Las Competencias Digitales Y El Rendimiento Académico En Estudiantes De La Carrera De Educación En Un Centro Universitario De La Región Este De La República Dominicana, Ángel Erich Cedano Cabrera

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada examinó la relación entre las competencias digitales y el rendimiento académico en la formación docente de la República Dominicana. El estudio abordó la escasez de evidencia empírica en el Centro Universitario de la Región Este, situación que limita el desarrollo de políticas educativas y estrategias pedagógicas fundamentadas en datos locales.

Se empleó un diseño cuantitativo, no experimental, correlacional y transeccional con una muestra de 120 estudiantes de las menciones en Educación Básica, Inicial y Física. Los datos se recolectaron mediante el Cuestionario para el estudio de la Competencia Digital del Alumnado de Educación Superior (CDAES) y los …

Adaptación De Los Docentes A Las Tecnologías En Educación A Distancia En Tiempos Del Covid-19, Kristy Rivera Crespo

Theses and Dissertations

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar el nivel de conocimiento, el papel del apoyo institucional y el grado de satisfacción de los docentes de enfermería ante la integración de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) en la educación a distancia durante la pandemia del COVID-19, en una universidad ubicada en la región oeste de Puerto Rico.

Las preguntas de investigación se centraron en: (a) determinar el nivel de conocimiento que poseen los docentes sobre las TIC y las plataformas virtuales; (b) analizar el papel de la institución universitaria en el proceso de adopción y desarrollo de …

Examining Language In Exclusionary Discipline Practices: A Mixed Methods Study Of A Medium Florida School District, Kathleen A. Wonnell

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined office discipline referrals and the language used by teachers when describing disciplinary incidents. Additionally, it explored the coding assigned by administrators to these office discipline referrals and how those codes impacted the consequences assigned, possibly contributing to the use of exclusionary discipline. This mixed-methods study sought to contribute to the body of research on exclusionary discipline and disproportionate disciplinary outcomes. Office discipline referrals that resulted in exclusionary discipline in two comprehensive high schools were examined and administrators from the same schools who are responsible for coding disciplinary incidents were interviewed.

Themes that emerged from examining the …

Rutas De Graduación Y Transición Postsecundaria: Conocimiento Y Percepción De Los Padres De Estudiantes Con Diversidad Funcional En El Área Central De Puerto Rico, Lyneiza E. Collazo Colón

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada tuvo como propósito examinar el nivel de conocimiento de los padres sobre las rutas de graduación para estudiantes con diversidad funcional en la región central de Puerto Rico, analizar su percepción sobre la efectividad de dichas rutas en la transición postsecundaria y determinar el tipo de relación entre ambas variables.

Se utilizó un enfoque cuantitativo, con un diseño no experimental, transversal, con alcance descriptivo-correlacional. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 72 padres, madres y encargados de estudiantes en transición postsecundaria, seleccionados mediante muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se administró un cuestionario de elaboración propia con una escala tipo …