Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons^™

Being Compassionate Helps Improve College Students’ Perceived Well-Being. The Mediating Role Of Cognitive Flexibility And Perceived Anxiety, Saurabh Singh, Sarath Nonis

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Perceived well-being of college students is crucial to the success of students and institutions of higher education alike. Through this study we assert that promoting compassion among college students can improve their perceived well-being. Furthermore, the effect is mediated by cognitive flexibility and anxiety felt by students. The study has theoretical and managerial implications. The results can guide educators and university personnel to better craft curriculum and university communication.

Breaking The Pipeline: Exploring Exclusionary Discipline, Restorative Justice, And The Attitudes And Beliefs Of Educators, Ericka J. Varnedoe

Honors College Theses

This study explores the connection between exclusionary disciplinary practices and the school-to-prison pipeline. It highlights how exclusionary discipline, including suspensions and expulsions, disproportionately affects marginalized groups such as students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ youth, further contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline. In contrast, restorative justice, a non-punitive approach, offers a promising alternative. Initially adopted from the criminal justice system, restorative justice has been integrated into school environments to foster positive school climates, improve experiences, and mitigate challenging behaviors. This research examines educators' attitudes toward both exclusionary and restorative practices, as well as their awareness and implementation of restorative …

Harnessing The Power Of Applied Behavior Analysis: Evidence Based Interventions For Children With Autism, Sandrene Foster

Empowering Educators Conference

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a proven therapy improving behavior, academics, and social skills, widely used for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other needs. With ASD diagnoses rising, early intervention is essential. This presentation explores ABA fundamentals, effective early interventions, and continuous assessment to maximize outcomes for children with ASD.

2025 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

SoTL Commons Conference

2025 Conference Program

Literary Homeplace As A Site Of Knowing And Healing, Shamonique Hassell

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The concept of literary homeplace serves as a locus of rhetorical healing for Black women, emphasizing their lived experiences and creative expressions as forms of resistance and restoration (Collins, 1986; hooks, 1990; Nettles, 2001). The labor of Black women within families, churches, and artistic endeavors contributes to the cultivation of a collective consciousness surrounding oppression and healing (Edwards, 2010; Carey, 2016; Morrison, 1992). Building upon hooks’ (1990) notion of homeplace, this dissertation examines how Black women foster spaces characterized by care, dignity, and resilience (Hersey, 2022; Tate, 1984). Using personal narrative and articulating Black women’s voices, I position homeplace as …

Fresh Eyes: Viewing Education Through A Critical Lens, Glennda Shealey-Griffiths

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation confronts neoliberal ideology in public education, where standardized testing and market-driven accountability systematically undermine teacher autonomy and creative learning. Moving beyond critique to action, this study develops a practical pedagogical framework empowering educators to resist these dehumanizing forces and cultivate democratic learning spaces through arts-integrated professional learning as critical aesthetic pedagogy. Drawing on Henry Giroux, Maxine Greene, Paolo Freire, and Jacques Rancière, this qualitative case study examines a professional learning initiative with public school teachers through interviews, classroom observations, and analysis of participants' photographic projects. These visual works function not merely as documentation but as catalysts for Giroux's …

The School Of Becoming: Speculative Essays On Existential Possibility And Humanity In Education, Timothy A. Holman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation reimagines public education through an existential lens, advocating for a humanitarian approach that resists the prevailing dominance of standardized, data-driven systems. Drawing primarily from the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre (1936, 1940, 1943, 1947, 1965, 1992), it contends that education should honor freedom, nurture authenticity, embrace encounters with others, and cultivate imagination as essential to human development. Influenced by the works of William Ayers (1998, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2024), Maxine Greene (1967, 1973, 1978, 1988, 2000, 2001), Paulo Freire (1970, 2001, 2004), Christopher Emdin (2010, 2016, 2021), and Byung-Chul Han (2018, 2024), speculative essays—each focused on an existential theme—are …

Bringing A Missing Minority Into Focus: Foster Parents’ Voices And Their Impact On Foster Children’S Academic Experiences, Clair Rutherford

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Foster children face persistent educational inequities shaped by trauma, frequent placement changes, and systemic barrierswithin schools. This dissertation investigates how foster parents perceive and influence the educational experiences of the children in their care, emphasizing the intersection of advocacy, trauma-informed teaching, and institutional response. Grounded in trauma-informed pedagogy, critical ecology and curriculum studies, the study interrogates how schools both support and constrain foster children’s educational opportunities. An arts-based methodology was employed, combining fictionalized portraiture and digital ethnography. Data sources included foster parent social media posts, reflexive journalling, and researcher positionality as both teacher and foster parent. Composite narratives were constructed …

Divisive Concepts Legislation: Perceptions Of Georgia Social Studies Teachers, Karen Terry, Forrest R. Parker Iii

Teaching Social Studies in the Peach State

This study examines Georgia social studies teachers' perceptions of House Bill 1084, which seeks to limit the teaching of divisive topics in K–12 classrooms. With growing concerns nationwide about how educators address controversial subjects, this bill represents Georgia's stance in the debate, potentially affecting social studies teaching in the state.

The research employs a survey-methods approach, focusing on Georgia's social studies teachers. Using a Delphi method, a pilot survey was first distributed to gather feedback and refine the survey. The study aims to understand teachers' views on House Bill 1084, its impact on their teaching practices, and its broader implications …

Youth Unveiled: Decoding The Stages Of Growth And Of Thriving Futures, Tycee Prevatt, Kristie Popa

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Explore Positive Youth Development's focus on aligning youth development with age-appropriate practices for maximum benefit from opportunities. Join us to understand the stages of youth growth and learn effective techniques to engage them in activities.

Mindfulness: The Missing Link In Education, Ashley L. Baer

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Were you asked to pay attention or behave in school? As educators, we must stop expecting focus and self-regulation, and instead we must teach it. Learn how in this experiential session to connect and regulate students using the breathing ball, games, breath, and movement. Let’s practice!

Igniting The Spirit Of Hope And Discovery In Our Youth, Thomas Peterson, Stephanie Love, Travis Thomaston, Sung Park, Ali Clark

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Trauma in our at-risk youth community is a growing concern and needs revisioning if we are to expect positive transformations. Our mentoring program is specifically designed to ignite hope and healing which is transforming youth that are on probation with the justice system. The outcomes are humbling and transforming, with youth better able to love themselves, connect with others, and find hope for their futures.

Meeting The Moment: Seeking A Symbiosis Of Economic Theory And Practice In Times Of Crisis, Sallie Taylor Manning

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

By their nature, crises upset the status quo and shake apart the ways of being and doing for individuals, families, communities, nations, institutions, and governments. This research seeks to identify the ways in which times of crisis led to changes in high school economics curriculum. The Georgia Performance Standards for high school economics curriculum were examined over a 23-year period to determine the extent to which three national and international crises led to changes in economics curriculum. A historiography was created for each of three crises, September 11, 2001 (9/11), Hurricane Katrina, and the Great Recession of 2008. The Georgia …

2024 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

SoTL Commons Conference

Conference program for 2024

The Age-Less Citizen: Cultivating A Civically Engaged K-12 Community Through The Use Of Service Learning, Chelsia I. Douglas Mpa

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

The Age-less Citizen will analyze evidence-based civic education studies and explore proactive student engagement strategies to build an individualized nonpartisan action plan for each school represented. From sending election reminders home by a kindergartener, to including local school board meetings on school newsletter and calendars, attendees will take away practical tips and tools to restore faith in the younger generation's ability to improve our democracy.

Exploring The Link Between School Discipline And Restoring Relationships Using Restorative Conferences!, Derrick C. Bailey, Julia Bullock

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Participants will be able to identify the link between effective restorative conferences and school discipline. They will learn strategies that are effective for reactive and proactive conferences. Participants will analyze scenarios of actual conferences and prepare a list of things to avoid. Participants will learn how to use data to assess the effectiveness of their conferences and adjustments that may need to be made.

A Trauma Responsive Approach To Fostering Resilience, Addressing Equity Issues And Improving Student Wellness And Academic Success, Mark Harrington, Joe Thompson, Kimberly Witeck

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

We’ll start with our school’s motto, “Family, Love, Respect,” which is posted in nearly every hallway, office and gathering place in our school. We attempt to provide each student with a strong sense of each. Although ours is an alternative high school, filled with stories of trauma, neglect and despair, our students are resilient! With that in mind we have created a number of programs to encourage resilience, provide a healthy path forward, decrease student discipline, and foster student success. All of these programs, and the stories we share detailing what our students have overcome show just how resilient young …

Healing Trauma In Our At-Risk Youth, Thomas Peterson, Tom Parmer, Stephanie Love, Jo Germanowski, Tyesha Harrison

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Trauma in our at-risk youth community is a growing concern and must be addressed if we are to expect positive transformations. We have developed a mentoring program that is specifically designed to bring healing that is transforming our at-risk youth that are on probation with the justice system here in Georgia. The outcomes are humbling and remarkable.

A Negotiated Curriculum: Giving Students Choice And Voice, Brenda Thomas

SoTL Commons Conference

Implementing a negotiated curriculum entails sharing power with students by giving them the autonomy to make decisions of varying degrees about curriculum and pedagogical practices. It is a relational pedagogy that increases student agency and engagement, enhances inclusion and belonging, and models democratic dialogue. Teaching with students as partners rather than to students as objects holds transformational power for instructors as well as students. This session will explore the results of a 3-year research project that examined students’ engagement in learning during their participation in a negotiated curriculum. Session participants will hear how one faculty member implements this approach, reflect …

Knowledge Surveys Benefit Students And Instructors, Lauren Scharff, Julie Tetley, Lynne Chandler-Garcia, Joel Sloan, Martiqua Post

SoTL Commons Conference

N/A

The Use Of Educational Biographies In Academic Librarianship Information Literacy Practice- Encouraging Reflective And Purposeful, Michelle Brown, Jolene Hurtubise, Caitlin Mcclurg

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

First Impressions: Engage Your Students Starting With The Syllabus!, Virginia (Ginger) B. Wickline, Drew Appleby

SoTL Commons Conference

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2023 Conference Schedule, Georgia Southern University

SoTL Commons Conference

Virtual Schedule Link: https://sotlcommons2023.sched.com/

Data Visualization As A Useful Tool For The Color Analysis Of Photographs: The Benefits Of A Cross-Disciplinary Project, Hye Young Kim, Seeung Oh, Jai-Hong Lee

SoTL Commons Conference

The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) has been developed by cross-disciplinary research
and practice-based teaching inquiries. The objective of this study is to investigate how a cross-
disciplinary project can increase student engagement and learning outcomes. The cross-disciplinary
project in this study is infusing data science into digital photography through data visualization using a
programming language, Python. It is important to choose a single shared subject to overlap across
disciplines. The shared subject is color as data of a digital image. Color is a crucial element of
photography because it directly affects viewers’ emotions and attention. Data visualization can …

High Impact Practices: Faculty Perceptions And Barriers To Implementation, Virginia (Ginger) B. Wickline, Rami Haddad, Padmini Shankar, Karelle Aiken

SoTL Commons Conference

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Using Cluster Analysis To Identify At-Risk Students, David P. Nalbone

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Fostering Career Readiness Among Biology Students Taking A Research Course In Diagnostic Parasitology, Alexa Von Dohlen

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Student Learning Outcomes: Self-Assessment As A Means Of Measurement, Mckinley Thomas, Paula Tillman, Janet Buelow

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Interactive Simulations In Online Learning Task Technology Content Fit, Chongwoo Park

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.

Implementation Of Extra Credit Quizzes As A Teaching Tool In General Chemistry, Eric Johnson

SoTL Commons Conference

No abstract provided.