This descriptive case study presents findings from a 2 year research study on an intervention program, "Reading with Animals," launched in a linguistically, ethnically, and racially diverse Central New York community. The local literacy coalition implemented the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (IL) program in two low-income zip codes…

For efficient and effective learning, intensive-mode programs have increasingly focused on threshold concepts -- transformative, often-troublesome, moments in learning that represent the development of key knowledge. Threshold concept theory has support in the context of content-based, disciplinary domains, but questions remain about its…

The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program is an integral part of the federal financial aid plan in the United State since 1964 providing employment opportunities, financial assistance, and opportunities to improve career readiness to over 675,000 students annually. However, little investigation has been completed into the effects of participating in…

The notion of compensation generates criticism, especially in the U.S. around unpaid internships in particular -- the country's principal form of work-integrated learning (WIL). The distinction between unpaid and paid internships remains understudied and therefore, serves as the primary motivator to compare students' perceptions of unpaid and paid…

Federal incentives and requirements under the Obama administration spurred states to adopt major reforms to their teacher evaluation systems. We examine the effects of these reforms on student achievement and attainment at a national scale by exploiting the staggered timing of implementation across states. We find precisely estimated null effects,…

Plant identification apps make learning about plants more convenient. This study explored the participants' perceptions of using three plant identification apps, PlantNet, PictureThis, and LeafSnap, as potential educational tools. Problems experienced, differences in perceptions, and the participants' most preferred apps were also determined.…

Many high school students learn about nutrient cycling during biology, environmental science, and agriculture classes. These lessons often focus on soil and plants, and nutrient cycling is usually taught independently from climate change. Scientists know that animals, including fish, can have strong effects on nutrient cycling (i.e., nitrogen and…

Final-year nursing students are known to face high levels of stress due to increased demands in academics and clinical practicum. In this study, a virtual peer mentoring program was pilot-tested, involving alumni as mentors. Using a mixed-methods approach, we sought to describe the acceptability, feasibility and satisfaction associated with the…

This study aims to emergency medical services(EMS) and their efficacy within the purview of Local Administrative Organizations (LAOs) in Thailand. As the responsibility for EMS has transitioned from public hospitals to LAOs, it has prompted inquiries into their efficiency. This research endeavors to scrutinize the determinants influencing the…

The purpose of the study is to address the teacher attrition affecting public schools in California, specifically with teachers with three or more years of classroom experience. A four-level leadership program, called the BICE model, created by Dr. Nolan in 2017, was used to examine the pre- and post-impact on experienced teacher satisfaction and…

The purpose of this mixed method study is to determine the effectiveness of the corequisite model on collegiate mathematics developmental education. Corequisite models are designed to allow students who place into pre-college level courses to complete the prerequisite material and college-level coursework simultaneously in their first semester.…

Recent teacher supervision and evaluation system (TSES) reform efforts have resulted in wide adoption of policies targeting improvements in teaching quality and student outcomes; however, impact of these policies has been inconsistent (Hazi, 2019; Stecher et al., 2018). Failure of TSES efforts to realize their intended outcomes is the result of…

For many years schools located within concentrated areas of poverty in an urban school county in south Florida have experienced alarmingly high teacher turnover rates and alarmingly low academic performance scores. In 2015, in a lauded expose printed by the "Tampa Bay Times," five schools, all of which would go on to become part of the…

Students are experiencing greater levels of mental and behavioral-health issues that are affecting their educational experiences. Schools are providing services to try and address these issues with lack of resources and knowledge. Universal screeners can be a useful tool for schools to not only screen students for these concerns that don't have…

COVID-19 forced educational institutions to work digitally. Universities were not prepared for online assessment during the lockdown. Teachers faced many challenges when assessing students online; they were afraid that they produced inefficient or fake results. This study aims to understand the factors that affect the efficiency of e-assessment…