Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

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) …

Guerrilleras: Speaking Truths And Strategizing Futures, Estela López

Gatherings

Women of color in higher education face a landscape that can be difficult to navigate for any number of reasons. For those who succeed, our successes and failures are hard fought and even harder won. This personal reflection considers my experiences participating in The State of Women of Color in New York Higher Education, and my goals for sharing about these aspects from my own career. I offer a goal that guided me through what I discussed at the symposium and saw interwoven throughout the day: women of color guerrilleras who come together in a coalition of warrior sisters to …

Developing Clinical Judgment In Nursing Students Using Discourse With Meaningful Feedback, Explanatory Mixed Methods Design, Annissa C. Jackson

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

The competency of clinical judgment in new nurses leading to safe practice has declined. The integrated clinical education theory posits discourse with meaningful feedback between nurse educators and pre-licensure students during clinical experiences enhances the development of clinical judgment. Quantitative evidence is needed for efficacy of clinical teaching using discourse with meaningful feedback. The hypothesis for this study was implementation of discourse with meaningful feedback between the academic nurse educator and the pre-licensure student nurse in direct patient care will improve the development of clinical judgment in students compared to the development of clinical judgment in students exposed to other …

Exploring Student Success In A Clinical Neuroscience Course: A Pilot Study On Early Identification And Academic Advising In Physical Therapy Training, Bindu Balakrishnan, James Mathews, Elizabeth Deluca-Berg, Mohan Ganesan

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: This study explored the impact of early identification and student academic advising on performance in the clinical neuroscience course using a mixed-method design. The researchers hypothesized that early identification of students experiencing academic difficulties, followed by comprehensive advising, would improve performance.

Methods: Twenty Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from the third trimester of the program participated in this mixed-methods study. Early identification was achieved through a quiz in the first week or early second week of the course, with students scoring below 70% offered voluntary enrollment. Nine students were assigned to the control group, while 11 received …

Exploring Health Care Professionals’ Perceptions Of Live Actor Avatar And Ai Avatar Simulated Patient Interactions, Leslie Rippon, Lorene Cobb, Marcia Downer, Alicia Mcgregor, Natalie Neubauer, Lauren Snowdon, Genevieve Zipp

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: The increasing use of simulation in health care and advancing capabilities of virtual technology have increased the use of virtual avatars. Recently, the development of large language models has created an opportunity for virtual reality (VR) simulation through combination of VR and artificial intelligence (AI). This study sought to evaluate the perception of authenticity in prerecorded virtual simulated patient interactions using two different avatar platforms: AI avatar and live actor avatar.

Methods: Participants included 41 health professionals with patient care experience, of which 32 completed the post experience survey. Using a repeated measures mixed methods research design allowed …

Perceptions Of Respect Among Dental Hygiene Students: A Qualitative Study, Jennifer Fehrenbacher

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Respect for others is an attribute that honors the dignity of individuals. As such, it is a key component in the creation of a positive teacher–student environment that leads to academic success. Because of the subjective nature of the term respect, it is important to determine how specific students perceive it. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore dental hygiene student perceptions of respect and inquire into their related academic success and care of their own patients. The insights gained from this study could be used to help guide teacher awareness of the needs of students …

Guided By Culture, Fueled By Goals: Evaluating The Patnubay Sa Pagtatagumpay Mentorship Journey, Priscilla L. Sagar, Mary Dioise Ramos, Mizpah Amados, Gloria Lamela Beriones, Warly Remegio, Marlon Garzo Saria, Lorraine Evangelista

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Effective mentorship is fundamental to professional development in nursing; however, there are limited initiatives that cater to the unique cultural and contextual needs of Filipino American nurses. To bridge this gap, the Philippine Nurses Association of America launched its Patnubay sa Pagtatagumpay Program (P3). This innovative initiative offers a culturally tailored approach to mentorship, incorporating features such as mentor-mentee pairings, structured goal setting, and year-long cohort support. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the P3 program, with initial outcomes indicating high overall satisfaction from both participants. By demonstrating that culturally focused mentorship can effectively meet the specific needs of a …

Witnessing Healing Through Fantasy: Trauma, Community, And Art In A Court Of Thorns And Roses, Alexandria A. Remm

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Drawing on theorists such as Bruno Bettelheim, Lucy Bonds, Stef Craps, Dominick LaCapra, and Laura Loumeau-May, this paper explores the role of trauma and healing in Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series by examining protagonist Feyre Archeron’s journey. Specifically, Feyre’s journey with trauma and how she heals throughout the series. The analysis highlights how Feyre’s recovery is deeply tied to empathy, her acts of artistic creation, and her evolving relationships with others, especially with those who have also endured their own trauma. In addition to textual analysis, the paper incorporates reader and fan responses—particularly fanart …

Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Additions To Nursing Education: Accommodating The Complexity Of Today’S Populations And Assuring Evidence-Based Pathways Of Patient-Centered Care, Jamie Anne Marcus, Bonnette Villalba Webb, Abigail Pauline Batin Villarroya

FDLA Journal

Predicted demographic changes in the rising older than 65 populations with possible declining mental and physical health mandate adaptations to new professional nursing roles that will incorporate technology, and changing policy environments. Nursing experience, knowledge, and skills will transition to new cognitive pathways to think and process information. Nurses will be supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and become information integrators, health coaches, and continue to be deliverers of human caring. New transition pathways in nursing education to meet the needs of these diverse populations, and patient complex presentations will transcend to synergizing and optimize digital-age healthcare environments and assure …