A Collaborative Teaching Approach: Teaching Emergent Bilinguals In Higher Education, Erika Oliveros

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This dissertation examines the collaboration between two college instructors, one in writing and one in psychology, to enhance support for emergent bilinguals at a private university in the northeastern United States. While collaboration among educators is widely encouraged in K–12 settings, it is far less common and studied in higher education, particularly in relation to language-minoritized students. Through an action research model, this study examines how our informal exchanges evolved into a more intentional and reflective collaboration over time. Grounded in the frameworks of translanguaging (García, 2009) and community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2005), the study traces the evolution of our …

Empowering Writers: Integrating Digital Prewriting Tools In The Research Writing Process, Heather A. Rundo

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

This practitioner article explores the integration of digital prewriting tools, specifically MindMeister and VoiceThread, in a high school sophomore honors English class during a research writing unit. The author, a classroom teacher, discusses the challenges students face in research writing and seeks to enhance their confidence and organization skills. Drawing insights from student and teacher perspectives on writing strengths and weaknesses, the article delves into the significance of prewriting as a fundamental component of the writing process.

Bringing Life To Our Mission And Vision: A Problem Of Practice, Jessica Preisig

All Dissertations

This study leveraged principles of improvement science and a mixed methods approach to evaluate the impact of an intentionally designed professional learning cohort for teachers. The intended aim of this study was to equip teachers with the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy necessary to effectively utilize instructional technology to meaningfully engage all learners. As one part of a collaborative dissertation in practice, this study explored the broad impact of teachers’ participation in a cohort implementing the seven elements of effective professional development (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017) and framed around the ISTE Standards for Educators (Crompton, 2017). The companion study (Britton, forthcoming) …

Teaching To Transgress: A Practice Of Justice And Healing In Teacher Education Program, Finney Cherain, Syed Ali Nasir Zaidi

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

We create deep connections with our surroundings, people and societies, and classrooms are one of such deep connections. Classrooms are spaces where the unfulfilled dreams and painful experiences of teachers and students can fester and estrange classrooms from being places of justice and hope. The absence of justice, healing and hope estranges public education of many of its democratic ideals and promises. We believe that teachers and students can heal together to deconstruct their experiences with oppression and envision new ways of coexisting with others and personally transform. Influenced by the work of Bell Hooks and Parker Palmer we offer …

The Marginalization Of Black Students And The Burnout Of Black Teachers, Jasmine N. Wilson

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Black students' language and culture should matter inside the classroom, but the K-12 education system perpetuates racist ideologies that otherwise stifle and shame Black students and their identities. There is a disproportion between the number of White teachers and Black students in minority-serving K-12 institutions, and this racial mismatch severely influences Black students’ academic success. In addition to the racial mismatch between White teachers and Black students, K-12 institutions foster a prejudiced learning environment that condemns African American English speakers. There is an abundance of research that suggests that Black teachers, Black culture, and Black English are of the utmost …

Reflection And Reimagination As Resistance: Towards Humanizing Critical Writing Pedagogy, Grace Y. Kang, Sonia M. Kline

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Given the pressures, demands, and standardization teachers face in our sociopolitically charged times, teachers need opportunities to reflect and reimagine their instruction. Drawing on critical and related scholarship, we conceptualize critical humanizing writing pedagogy. We share our instructional moves as teacher educators for enacting humanizing writing pedagogy in a graduate course and supporting teachers to enact humanizing writing pedagogy in their K-12 classrooms. Specifically, we show how a graduate student and practicing teacher found ways to shift toward critical orientations as she navigated her school’s curriculum and state standards. We argue that sociocultural and critical lenses provide powerful tools for …

Unburying The "Bury Your Gays" Trope In Young Adult Literature, Brooke Armbrustmacher

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

In this paper, I unpack what the "Bury Your Gays" trope is, how it originated, its purpose, and its contemporary use and impacts. Through analysis of example novels and referenced scholarly articles, I explain how character deaths do or do not align with the trope, exemplifying the broader patterns of the trope and its impacts on young adults. Educators can learn to contextually identify the trope, gain the tools to spark classroom discussion through analysis, and identify examples of novels that disrupt this trope to be implemented in classroom libraries and reading lists.

The Tree That Would Not Fall: An Educator’S Autoethnographic Journey Of Healing Through Words, Raeanna Marie Carlson

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

To say the world has changed since the 2020 COVID-19 shut down is to minimize the micro and macro social changes that infiltrated the school system. In the wake of it all, we find a landscape marred by a both rising teacher attrition and struggling student motivation. This autoethnographic dissertation explores the deeply personal experience tethered to a deeply problematic system that contributes to not only teacher burnout but what I came to know as teacher demoralization. Personal traumas of teachers profoundly impact their experience in the classroom, and as I examined my own near departure from the classroom, I …

Empathetic Differentiated Instruction In Deaf Education: Examining Influencing Factors And Experienced Educator Practices, Laura A. Blackburn

STEMPS Master's Level Projects and Papers

This mixed-methods study investigated how experienced K–12 deaf educators implement empathetic, differentiated instruction (EDI) to support the academic and linguistic needs of deaf students who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their language of learning. Guided by Tracey and Baaki’s instructional design empathy model and grounded in constructivism, the study explored how teachers navigated the tension between standardized, English (sound-based) curriculum demands and the need to make instructional decisions aligned with signed language modalities and responsive to students’ real-time learning needs.

A custom electronic survey was distributed to a national sample of experienced educators, with 19 respondents completing Likert-scale items, …

Educating The New Generation Of Food Scientists Through Innovative Learning Experiences, Karen Andrea Nieto Flores

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Food science provides an opportunity to engage high school students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications. Despite the field’s relevance to public health, food safety, sustainability, and innovation, food science remains largely absent from high school curricula, and few students recognize it as a viable STEM pathway. This research addressed this gap by evaluating immersive summer camp experiences and teacher-focused curriculum review as strategies to increase food science awareness and interest among students and educators. A literature review traced the historical development and current landscape of K–12 food science education, identifying barriers …

Characterization Of Undergraduate Biology Instructors’ Goals And Strategies For Implementing Quantitative Reasoning, Anum Khushal

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Quantitative reasoning (QR) is the application of mathematics and statistics to real-life and scientific contexts. It is essential for understanding complex biological phenomena and analyzing large datasets in both academic and professional settings. In response to the growing demand for QR skills, biology educators and researchers have engaged in curricular reforms and education research. This qualitative study explores how undergraduate biology instructors integrate QR into their teaching using a framework informed by pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and QR. The study involved 21 biology faculty from various U.S. institutions who intentionally incorporated QR in their instruction. Data was collected through semi-structured …

Navigating Spaces: Understanding Lgbtq+ Families Who Homeschool Amid Shifting Legislative And Societal Landscapes, Ana Ferrante

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the motivations and lived experiences of caregivers of LGBTQ+ youth who chose homeschooling amid escalating anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) (Deci and Ryan, 1980) and Queer Theory (Chevrette, 2013), the study examined how caregivers navigated educational decisions to construct affirming, identity-conscious learning environments in response to exclusionary policies and systemic marginalization. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with four caregivers residing in politically conservative states in the U.S.. The findings revealed that homeschooling functioned both as a protective measure against institutional harm and as a proactive strategy for fostering …

Perceptions Of Healthcare Students And Educators On Ai And Ar In Immersive Learning: A Phenomenological Study Of Empathy And Self-Efficacy Development In Palliative And End Of Life Care, Thomas Joseph Soto

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As healthcare education evolves to address emotionally complex scenarios such as palliative and end-of-life care, there is an increasing need to integrate both technical and emotional competencies into training. This interpretive phenomenological study explored how artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR)-enhanced immersive simulations shape healthcare students' empathy and self-efficacy. Grounded in Rogers' Client-Centered Theory and Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, the research investigated the lived experiences of healthcare students and educators who participated in emotionally realistic simulations using AI-driven manikins and auditory AR features. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a hybrid inductive-deductive coding framework, incorporating in-vivo …

Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions Of An Outdoor Learning Experience Within A Science Methods Course, Steph Dean, Summer Landreth

Publications

Given the challenges currently facing early childhood science education, this exploratory study investigates the advantages of outdoor learning as part of a teacher preparation program. A group of 49 pre-service early childhood education teachers participated in a day-long outdoor learning experience embedded within their science methods course. Guided by the theoretical lens of embodied cognition, we employed a case study approach to collect and analyze qualitative survey data, using both categorizing and connecting strategies to explore participants’ experiences. The findings reveal four key themes related to pre-service teacher perceptions, in that outdoor learning: (1) represented an engaging experience, (2) contributed …

Enhancing Stem Education With Generative Ai: A Case Study Exploring Student Learning, Motivation, And Teacher Perception In Thailand, Parin Chawalit

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigates how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools can support STEM education in a Thai secondary school setting. Conducted during a one-day STEM camp involving 50 students (grades 9–11) and one science teacher, the study explored the use of ChatGPT and Gemini to support students’ engagement in a bridge design challenge. The research examined GenAI’s influence on student learning within the engineering design process (EDP), student motivation and engagement, and teacher perceptions of AI integration.

Thematic analysis of observations, student surveys, interviews, and AI interaction logs revealed that GenAI tools supported students primarily during the early phases …

If It Walks Like A Duck: Self-Identification, Definition, And Experiences Of Non-Traditional Doctoral Students In The Communication Discipline, Laura C. Bruns, Sara V.A. Kaufman, Ana Lisa Padron Eberline, Meredith L. Pruden, Erin Perry, Elise P. Taylor, Deborah J. Danuser

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This study aimed to understand experiences of nontraditional doctoral students pursuing their PhD in Communication. Although the term “nontraditional student” exists in the literature (Cox & Ebbers, 2010; Stone & O’Shea, 2019), there is little consensus about demographics of nontraditional doctoral students (NTDS), nor their experiences navigating these programs. Using qualitative, thematic analysis of survey responses (n = 52), this critical mixed-method study found three themes— age, experience, and education gap—as defining identity factors, barriers, and benefits. Participants described themselves as nontraditional due to different lived experiences from graduate peers, resulting in feelings of “Otherness” within their programs. These findings …

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Project-Based Vocational Learning Programs At Vocational Schools, Muhammad Sadam Rizkylillah, Soeprijanto Soeprijanto, Muksin Muksin

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study evaluates the impact (effectiveness and outcome) of project-based vocational learning program in Electrical Power Installation programs (TITL) at vocational schools in Tangerang, Indonesia. Using the Goal Free Evaluation model and a mixed-methods approach, quantitatively, the study found that 93,93% of the program ran well. It identified 33 positive impacts that matched the program's goals, 2 negative impacts, and 6 unexpected positive outcomes for students such as curiosity, confidence, safety awareness, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and honesty. Addressing high vocational graduate unemployment, this research fills a gap by focusing on real impacts rather than predefined goals. The program is recommended to …

Augmented Reality Based Cultural Heritage In Improving Students' Literacy Culture In History Learning At Smk Muhammadiyah I Pekanbaru, Suroyo Suroyo, Novena Ade Fredyarini Soedjiwo, Derinta Entas, Antonio Constantino Soares

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

History learning in vocational high schools (SMK) is often faced with challenges in increasing students' interest and understanding of culture and history. The application of Cultural Heritage-based Augmented Reality (AR) technology as an innovative solution in improving students' literacy culture in history learning at SMK Muhammadiyah I Pekanbaru. This study aims to evaluate the impact of using Cultural Heritage-based AR on historical understanding, cultural appreciation, and student interest at SMK Muhammadiyah I Pekanbaru. Experimental research method was used with one experimental group engaged in learning using Cultural Heritage-based AR and one control group following conventional learning. Data were collected through …

Penerapan Layanan Bimbingan Kelompok Dengan Teknik Role Playing Terhadap Kemampuan Meregulasi Emosi Pada Remaja, Rizky Abdillah, Nurussakinah Daulay

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This research was conducted at An-Nizam private junior high school, during adolescence is a period of significant changes that occur in terms of physical, social and psychological changes. During this period, many people have difficulty managing their emotions, which will have a negative impact and have a bad influence, so they need guidance so that their emotions are more controlled. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of group guidance services that use role-playing strategies to improve emotion regulation skills in adolescents. This research used a quasi-experimental design with 42 students from class VIII at An-Nizam Private …

Effectiveness Of Geo Fun Thinkers Digital Learning Media On Student Understanding, Nur Halimah Silviatus Zahra, Budi Handoyo, I Komang Astina, Wan Ibrahim Wan Ahmad

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to develop and test the effectiveness of Digital Geo Fun Thinkers learning media on student understanding of the material on the utilization of natural resources and their problems. The research used the Research and Development (R&D) method with the ADDIE model (Analysis-Design-Development-Implementation-Evaluation) which was carried out at Almaarif Singosari Islamic High School with the subject of 27 students in class XI IPS 1. Digital Geo Fun Thinkers media was developed based on digital technology by raising the contextual phenomenon of natural resources at the foot of Mount Arjuno, especially in Sumber Brantas and Toyomarto villages. This media …

Deaf Faculty Members’ Experiences In Higher Education Institutions, Stephanie Proctor Horvath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deaf faculty members bring diverse perspectives to higher education, yet their experiences remain underexplored in academic research. The critical first year of teaching can shape their career experiences, revealing both opportunities for growth and systemic barriers. The purpose of this study was to understand deaf faculty members’ experiences, focusing on their transition into academic roles, the accommodations provided in their workplaces, and the challenges they faced. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological design, utilizing semi-structured interviews with 15 Deaf faculty members, whose teaching experience ranges from 1 to 30 years. In the reflexive thematic analysis and AI-coding of this data, …

Bleeding Out From The Redlining: An Autoethnographic Study Of Racial Equity Policy Enactment In A Large, Urban School District., Anderson Aven Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study investigates the enactment and impact of racial equity policies within Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), a large urban school district in Louisville, Kentucky. The research is motivated by the ongoing challenges of achieving true educational equity for Black and Brown students, a struggle rooted in historical injustices such as redlining. Despite over seven years of policy implementation aimed at promoting racial equity, academic and behavioral disparities between Black and Brown students and their White counterparts have shown little improvement. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, this study employs autoethnography to intertwine personal narrative with scholarly analysis, exploring the lived …

Burning The Wick At Both Ends: A Three Paper Investigation Of Burnout And Educators, Karla P. Miner

All Dissertations

Researchers in the late 20th century identified the impact of burnout on organizational and individual success. The urgency to address burnout in education has intensified following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teacher burnout, characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of inadequacy, has been a commonly discussed topic among educators internationally following the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent studies highlight the alarming rates of burnout among educators, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to support well-being and mitigate educator attrition. This collection of papers addresses three primary aspects of burnout and practice: a literature review of individual and organizational practice, a …

Collaboration In Action: An Exploration Of Collaborative Practice-Based Learning In Perservice Teacher Coursework, Logan W. Qualls

All Dissertations

New teachers report not feeling prepared to effectively collaborate with other professionals and families; however, collaboration is a large component of their day-to-day work. Thus, there is a need for teacher preparation programs to incorporate instructional methods that provide preservice teachers with opportunities to not only learn about the concept of collaboration but also to put those skills into place prior to entering the classroom. One possible answer to this need is to incorporate practice-based learning. Practice-based learning has been shown to effectively increase skill implementation for instructional and behavior management strategies; however, there is a lack of research regarding …

White Secondary Social Studies Pre-Service And First Year Teachers’ Emotions Surrounding Topics Of Race In Light Of Current Censorship Laws, Noble M. Edmisten

All Dissertations

This study aimed to identify the varied emotions of white, pre-service and first year secondary social studies teachers when facing the possibility of teaching topics of race, especially in the current “anti-CRT” political climate. Using Critical Race Theory and Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotion as a guiding framework, this exploratory, multiple case study employed a variety of qualitative data collection methods and analysis practices. The cross-case analysis, using Constant Comparative Analysis, identified six common themes across the individual cases. The findings revealed that white pre-service and first year secondary social studies teachers believed race was impacting every area of life, they …

Teacher Efficacy In Reading Intervention: The Role Of Coaching And Professional Development In Foundational Literacy, Susan S. Chapman

All Dissertations

This Dissertation in Practice utilized improvement science methods to increase teacher self-efficacy in foundational reading practices and to address the oral reading fluency (ORF) challenges of elementary students who consistently score below proficiency. Rooted in Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and the Active View of Reading, the study aimed to build teacher confidence in delivering foundational reading instruction while improving student ORF rates. A Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle was implemented with second-grade teachers and targeted the following aim: increase ORF by 12 words correct per minute (wcpm) for students receiving Tier 3 intervention over an eight-week cycle. Coaching, using the student-centered coaching …

Are They Ready? Impacting Kindergarten Readiness Through The Science Of Reading, Traci T. Boyles

All Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to investigate how Science of Reading (SOR) professional development for preschool teachers, implemented through collaborative teaching and assessment cycles, influences the kindergarten readiness of preschool students.

Students from impoverished families start kindergarten at a considerable disadvantage regarding literacy. Literacy-focused curricula and professional development for teachers strongly affect reading outcomes. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) provides a systemic framework for data-based problem solving and decision-making. The MTSS framework aligns literacy interventions with tiered supports to ensure all students receive the assistance they need to achieve reading proficiency.

The South Carolina Child Early Reading Development …

A Convergent Mixed Methods Study Of The Social Studies Academy In South Carolina Middle Schools, Audie Cherry

All Dissertations

There is a global labor shortage in the agricultural industry and middle school is a critical time to get students serious about career decision making. The Studies of Occupations, Culture, and Innovations toward Agricultural Literacy (SOCIAL) Studies Academy is a high impact professional development program in South Carolina that provides experiences and for middle school social studies teachers (N = 12) to become more suited to teach their standards associated with the agricultural sciences with hopes of encouraging more students to pursue agricultural careers. This study was a mixed-methods convergent parallel design that examined 1) Academy Fellows (n = 4) …

A Case Study Of The Perceived Support Needs Of Community College Faculty, Ramona C. Shelton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of community college faculty members in Tennessee regarding the supports they feel they need to be successful academicians both inside and outside of the classroom. Thirteen faculty members participated in the study, representing the 4 faculty ranking categories at the institution: adjunct/part-time, new full-time, junior/untenured, and senior/tenured. Interviews were semi-structured to allow the participants the opportunity to share their honest experiences on what support needs they have, how those needs have been met, and what support areas they expect to emerge in the future. Four academic administrators also participated in the study in …

Connecting The Dots: Teacher Self-Efficacy, Student-Teacher Relationships, And Behavior Management In Early Childhood, Courtney Lewis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

This study was designed to explore the relationships between teacher self-efficacy, student-teacher relationships, and use of behavior management strategies in early childhood education. Previous research suggests that effective early childhood education improves a child’s academic and social outcomes. This study sought to explore factors contributing to teacher effectiveness in preschool teachers. The hypotheses were that (1) teacher self-efficacy will directly affect student teacher relationships, (2) that studentteacher relationships will directly affect teacher’s frequency, confidence, and success of their behavior management strategies, and (3) that student-teacher relationships will act as a mediating variable between teacher self-efficacy and the frequency, confidence, and …