Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Beyond The Red Pen: Investigating The Formation Of Reader And Writer Identity Development In Preservice Teachers, Sarah Rutt Williams, Pengtong Qu, Lydia Denning

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The influence of identifying as a reader and writer in being a literacy teacher has been emphasized in the literature (Graves, 1983). However, few studies have explored how teacher education programs develop these identities in preservice teachers (PSTs). Grounded in Demerath’s (2006) epistemological identity theory, this study explored the fluid process of teacher identity formation, focusing on nurturing PSTs’ identities as readers and writers. The study took place over one semester in an English Education course. The researchers analyzed three PST participants’ weekly reflections about their beliefs regarding teaching and learning literacy. These statements revolved around topics that aligned with …

Content And Consequences: Impact Of Representation In Stem Higher Education Instructional Content On Marginalized Students, Nichole Ventura

Doctorate in Education

This qualitative study examined representation of historically marginalized students in STEM instructional content at the higher education level and its impact on their learning experiences. Despite growing diversity initiatives in STEM enrollment, curricular materials often fail to reflect the identities of underrepresented students. Using critical theory and interpretivist approaches, this research investigated how representation—or its absence—shapes students' sense of belonging, academic identity formation, and persistence. Through semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students from historically marginalized backgrounds, and purposeful sampling, this study captured the lived experiences of students engaging with STEM instructional materials. Interview protocols explored how students perceive their representation in …

Exploring The Role Of Christian Religiosity In The Acceptance Or Rejection Of Ai Chatbot Use Among Faculty At Church Of Christ Universities, Amos Gutierrez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions are navigating the benefits and challenges of generative AI chatbot use and preparing faculty and students to engage with these tools ethically and responsibly. The problem is that there are many challenges and barriers to using these technologies in higher education, and Christian higher education institutions must also address context-specific considerations regarding mission and vision rooted in biblical faith and practice. The purpose of this quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study using confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression through structural equation modeling was to examine faculty perceptions of AI chatbots and how Christian religiosity moderates acceptance. An online survey …

A Word From The Writing Team (December 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa, Laura Deloretta, Phd

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Navigating The Ethical Landscape: A Field Reflection On The Dynamics Of Informed Consent In Qualitative Research, Khim Raj Subedi, Peshal Khanal

The Qualitative Report

Our paper analyses the practical dimensions of obtaining informed consent in qualitative research, drawing on the reflective insight from fieldwork conducted as part of a study on the professional identity of primary (elementary) teachers in community schools in Nepal. Our study builds on and extends the understanding of informed consent as a legal and ethical requirement (Kadam, 2017) while considering the complexities of fieldwork. Drawing on interactions with six teachers and using the first author's detailed fieldnotes and reflexive memos, our study explores the challenges researchers face in securing consent during qualitative interviews. We argue that the consent-seeking process should …

Exploring Student And Faculty Perceptions Of Website Credibility, Mark J. Viner Dr., Elizabeth S. Stewart Dr.

Intersections: Critical Issues in Education

This research investigation delves into the multifaceted realm of internet searches and online web pages, aiming to explore thoughts and opinions held by undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. Understanding how individuals navigate and interpret information online is crucial as the digital landscape evolves.

The study investigates the factors concerning users' choices in searching for information online and search results' perceived accuracy or validity. Additionally, it delves into users' perceptions of online content, examining their practices, credibility, and the sharing of information online with others.

By collecting and analyzing responses from undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty, the research identifies …

Beyond Instrumentalization: Adventures In Crafting A Community-Engaged Education, Katherine Kruger, Beth Brown

International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education

This article explores the design, functions and experiences of a community-engaged education from the points of view of a university student and a lecturer. Whilst experiential learning is currently being presented as fundamental to university employability agendas in the UK, we reflect on the other important consequences of creating a more porous educational community. We suggest that taking arts and humanities pedagogies – archival research and collage in particular – outside of the classroom, positively impacts belonging and social justice, elements that are less easily captured by university metrics. Moreover, we propose that these pedagogies can be utilised to challenge …

Invited Reflection: Experiential Learning's Effects On Learning, Teaching, And Service, Maureen (Molly) B. Keane-Sexton

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

This article details a multifaceted academic-community partnership between the University of Dayton’s Department of English and the Mosaic Institute, a local nonprofit arts organization. Supported by a faculty fellowship through the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community and the Experiential Learning Innovation Faculty Fund (ELIFF), the partnership provided students in a writing course with real-world experience while supporting the mission of a community arts partner. Students contributed to a memorial mosaic in the Oregon District, developed successful grant proposals for a new mosaic park in East Dayton, created promotional materials for the institute’s anniversary, and led community members in creating …

Teaching With Challenged Books: Connections With Marianist Values, Jeanne Holcomb

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

The focus of this reflective commentary is the use of banned and challenged books as the key reading assignment and pedagogical tool in teaching SOC 101, Principles of Sociology. Although it is estimated that the number of book challenges decreased between 2023 and 2024, there has been a significant increase since 2020, with many of the challenged books portraying issues central to the field of sociology. Starting in the fall 2024 semester, I have incorporated challenged books into my SOC 101 courses, with over 100 students being in those sections during the 2024-25 academic year. In this paper, I provide …

Experiential Learning And The Revitalization Of Manufacturing Education At The University Of Dayton, Sean Cahill

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

This perspective paper explores the role of experiential learning in preparing future-ready manufacturing engineers at the University of Dayton, set against the backdrop of Dayton’s legacy as an industrial innovator and the broader national movement to revitalize domestic manufacturing. As automation, cyber-physical systems, and Industry 4.0 technologies reshape the manufacturing landscape, there is a growing need for engineers who possess both technical fluency and systems-thinking capabilities. To meet this need, the manufacturing engineering technology department implemented hands-on, integrated lab-and-lecture modules through support from the Experiential Learning Innovation Fund for Faculty (ELIFF). Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory and constructivist learning …

Educating Using The Discipleship Of Equals: Dialogue For Social Justice And Change, Leslie H. Picca, Leah Ward

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

This reflection explores the experiences teaching a course focused on social justice and change grounded in the Marianist principle of discipleship of equals. Students, faculty, and staff enroll in a semester-long credit-bearing course as equal participants, disrupting traditional hierarchical models of education. This essay explores the class structure, impact on participants, challenges, and recommendations.

Preparation, Immersion, Reflection, Assessment (Pira): A Framework For High-Impact Experiential Learning, Karen Velasquez

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

This article presents the PIRA framework—preparation, immersion, reflection, assessment—as a practical model for intentionally structuring high-impact experiential learning (EL). PIRA serves as a unifying pedagogical tool, bridging foundational frameworks in EL and institutional strategy to facilitate increased coherence across diverse types of EL. The framework’s adoption aligns EL with the University of Dayton’s core mission, advancing equity and student success through intentional design and more uniform standards. This paper examines PIRA’s conceptual foundations, details its benefits for student learning and success, and offers concrete strategies for implementation.

Cover And Front Matter

Research and Reflection on Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Cover and Table of Contents for Volume 3 (2025)

Adapting And Addressing Pedagogy To The Needs Of The Day: George Floyd And American Literature And American Civilization To 1877, Alexis C. Jones, Don Bouchard

Essays in Education

This article explores a unique educational response to the racial and social tensions ignited by George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests and civil unrest in 2020. Two professors at a small private college near Minneapolis/St. Paul collaboratively redesigned their American Literature to 1870 and American Civilization to 1877 courses, aiming to foster a space for civil discourse, critical inquiry, and social awareness among students. Employing Paulo Freire's concept of “conscientização” and Parker Palmer's vision of a community-centered classroom, the professors created a curriculum focused on primary sources and research-based journaling, which allowed students to critically examine America’s history of …

Nursing Students As Advocates: Addressing Social Determinants Of Health Through Service-Learning, Rebekah Mullins

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

Advocacy is at the heart of nursing practice, and advocating for the social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial when providing care to patients from vulnerable populations. Service-learning is a strategy that can be used to teach students advocacy skills. Chapter 2 of this dissertation portfolio presents a concept analysis that explores the definition of advocacy using the Walker and Avant method (2019). The concept analysis informed the development of the case study presented in Chapter 3 and the research study presented in Chapter 4. The portfolio includes original, qualitative research that was guided by the interpretive descriptive method. The …

Introducing Neuro Sscial Work: A Brief Reflection On Neuroscience And The Profession, Priscila Llamosa

Social Work Faculty Publications

This reflection introduces and contextualizes the term Neuro Social Work, which I coin to name a specialized practice area at the intersection of social work, neuroscience, and neurodiversity. Drawing on my experience as a social work educator and practitioner, I discuss social work’s uneasy relationship with neuroscience, marked both by the opportunity to deepen our understanding of trauma, development, and healing, and by the risks of using brain‑based evidence to individualize structural harms or justify surveillance of marginalized communities. I outline, in broad strokes, what distinguishes Neuro Social Work from general neuroscience‑informed practice. The note is intended as a concept …

Navigating Undergraduate Research In The Digital Era: A Qualitative Analysis Of Faculty Digital Practices And The Visibility Of Undergraduate Research Opportunities, Danielle Rukezo, Laamiah Mansuri, Southern Mullen, Madison Millen

Undergraduate Scholarly Works

This project examines undergraduate students’ experiences with research and the ways participation in undergraduate research supports academic, professional, and personal development.

Evaluating Student Proficiency In Quantitative Reasoning, Gabriel Chavez, Jennifer Clinkenbeard, Tolga Tezcan, Celine Pinet, Jennifer Duggan, George Beckham, Sumadhur Shakya, Christina Zhang

Numeracy

Quantitative Reasoning (QR) competencies are increasingly vital for academic and professional success across disciplines. This study examines the QR proficiency of over 400 undergraduates through a mixed-methods approach, integrating survey-based self-assessments (n = 469) with direct evaluations of final exams (n = 80). This study took place at a public, primarily undergraduate, four-year state university in Northern California with approximate enrollment of 7,500 students. Although students reported frequent engagement in foundational QR tasks— such as calculation and interpretation—rubric-based scoring revealed inconsistent levels of mastery, particularly on higher-order skills like evaluation and coherence. Regression analyses linked confidence to calculation …

Does The National Benchmark Quantitative Literacy Test Predict Performance In Stem Programmes In Commerce, Engineering And Science?, Robert N. Prince

Numeracy

In South Africa, university completion rates remain low, with only 23% of students finishing within the regulation time (three or four years). These completion rates continue to reflect racial inequalities, with ‘White’ students significantly more likely to complete degrees in professional fields such as engineering and commerce compared to their ‘African’ counterparts. To address these challenges, the South African higher education institutions, through their umbrella body, introduced the National Benchmark (NB) tests to assess students’ academic literacy skills—including quantitative literacy, academic literacy, and mathematics—to identify those most at risk of struggling with the curriculum. The NB tests aim to evaluate …

Book Review - The Idea Of A Christian School And Why It Matters For The Child You Love, Jared Johnston

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

A review of Stoner, Tom (2024). The idea of a Christian school and why it matters for the child you love. Wipf and Stock.

ISBN:979838521958, 160 pages

Collaborative Learning In Occupational Therapy Graduate Education: Student And Faculty Perspectives, Erin Simpson, Caren Schranz

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Collaborative learning is noted as an effective strategy for learning and engagement in graduate school. Collaborative learning specific to occupational therapy (OT) graduate learning supports opportunities to work with peers and prepare for professional practice by expanding critical thinking, interpersonal and teamwork skills. This study explored the benefits and challenges of collaborative learning in occupational therapy graduate programs from the perspective of both students and faculty. A cross-sectional descriptive design gathered student and faculty perspectives through closed and open-ended questions. Data analyzation used descriptive statistics of close-ended questions and content analysis of open-ended questions using frequency of the words or …

Code, Paper, Scissors: What To Cut In The Age Of Ai, Dmitry Kondrashov

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Book Review Of: Univision, Telemundo, And The Rise Of Spanish-Language Television In The United States, Elizabeth Sotelo

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Craig Allen’s Univision, Telemundo, and the Rise of Spanish-Language Television in the United States (2020) meticulously encapsulates the business challenges and subsequent success of Spanish-language television networks in the United States. Grounded in hard data, archival research, reporting, and interviews, the author expands the study beyond the U.S. to trace the initiatives’ roots to Mexico. The book’s nine chapters weave a chronological narrative that covers the period from 1961 to 2012. Throughout the book, Allen explores the beginning of Univision in San Antonio in 1961, the birth of Telemundo in 1986, the pioneers and the investments involved, and the creation …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

The Shadow Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On State Comprehensive Universities, Rachel Dolechek, Latisha Haag, Kylie Jank

Teacher-Scholar: The Journal of the State Comprehensive University

Collegiate faculty at state comprehensive universities (SCU) have an opportunity to reflect on and learn from Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) and Remote Hybrid Teaching (RHT) experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and apply the lessons learned to future emergency or crisis situations. This paper focuses on the shadow of COVID-19 and offers insight into building a learning environment that maintains academic design and prepares for the possibility of ERT or RHT, as well as the increased demand for hybrid courses. Findings from an explanatory, mixed-methods study at an SCU suggest a lack of teaching presence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on …

Fraggin’ The Superhero Genre: Parody And Carnival In Dc’S Lobo, Ryan L. Johnson

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

This essay examines the DC anti-hero Lobo as an ideal example of the constructive, creative power of parody and Bakhtinian carnival. Unlike Bakhtin’s assertion that carnival since the Renaissance has lost its spirit of play and become purely destructive, Lobo uses grotesque violence to create just as much as he destroys social norms. Ultimately, the mini-series under consideration provide a valuable tool for students to understand carnival, parody, and its power as criticism.

Faculty Development Update, November 2025, Lindenwood University

Faculty Development Update

The Faculty Development Update is a newsletter created by the Lindenwood University Learning Academy.

Smart Learning In An Ai-Driven World, Joseph Rene Corbeil, Maria Elena Corbeil

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

SMART learning is an approach that combines sustainability, motivation, adaptability, results-oriented practices, and technology enablement. AI-driven SMART learning prioritizes flexibility, cost-efficiency, and knowledge retention, equipping teachers and students with the tools to adapt to an ever-evolving world. By envisioning AI's role in fostering SMART learning attributes, we pave the way for a future where technology and education intertwine to empower learners and redefine teaching practices.

A Word From The Writing Team (November 2025), Pam Walter, Mfa, Laura Deloretta, Phd

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Leading Beyond The Lecture: A Case Study Exploring How Community College Students Experience Their Instructors’ Positive Leadership Strategies, Mandy Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Positive leadership, an approach to leading individuals to the point of flourishing, has been studied in corporate contexts. While the student-to-instructor relationships only distantly compare to the employee-to-supervisor dynamics, the relationships and power differential have similarities, making the pillars of positive leadership relevant in the context of higher education. Given the critical nature of student success to stakeholders in higher education and the students themselves, discovering instructor strategies that enhance student success can demonstrate an upward spiral of positivity that extends from the student, to the instructor, to the college, and ultimately to the community. Framed by leader-member exchange (LMX) …