University First Year Seminar (FYS) programs are diverse in their content and pedagogy. Yet all seek to assist first-year students in the difficult college transition. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate if grouping similar academic majors into the existing First Year Seminar (FYS) courses would improve social connectedness, use of…

The case study contained within this dissertation is a part of the International Successful School Principalship Project (ISSPP). The aim of this project has been to examine successful school principalship in Alabama through in-depth analysis of qualitative interview data. The primary focus of the study is the nature of school…

This study explores how caregiver-child scientific conversation during storybook reading focusing on the challenges or achievements of famous female scientists impacts preschoolers' mindset, beliefs about success, and persistence. Caregiver-child dyads (N = 202, 100 female, 35% non-White, aged 4-5, [function] = 0.15) were assigned to one of three…

Background: Service-learning (SL) programs have been shown to be effective for college students in developing positive attitudes toward people with disabilities (PWDs). Such positive attitudes are particularly important for Kinesiology (KIN) students as they are trained to become future health and fitness professionals. Purpose: The present study…

Astronomy is seen as a "gateway" science, inspiring students to pursue Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) related careers. However, there is little evidence that students' attitudes towards astronomy remain stable over time. By integrating Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), we identified…

Leveraging racial sensemaking and constructive-developmental frameworks, this study investigates how school leaders implementing culturally responsive-sustaining education make sense of racism, and how their racial beliefs change over time. Given New York State's mandate that educators implement culturally responsive-sustaining education, it made…

This report describes two integrated projects initiated by the 2020 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award (NTF) cohort on the concepts of educational leadership in Canadian universities and the role of authenticity among exemplary teachers. A thematic analysis of 3M NTF award-winning dossiers identified six prevalent traits characteristic of…

This study explored the impact of stakeholder engagement on curriculum implementation at Ethiopian Defense University (EDU). It focuses on examining the effects of partnerships, stakeholder motivation, and decisionmaking on curriculum implementation. As a result, a descriptive survey research design with a mixed research approach was employed. A…

Staff meetings are a regular occurrence in schools, yet both teachers and principals typically report dissatisfaction with these meetings. The current investigation seeks to understand the viewpoints of public-school teachers on silence during staff meetings. This was the first known investigation on the topic using Q methodology. Data analysis…

The process of any language learning is a complex construction of objectives. Any goal is influenced by internal or external factors such as motivation, culture, previous experiences, attitudes, etc. This study aims to recognize and understand the distinct learners' attitudes during their learning progress. This research is conducted as a case…

Student engagement is conceptualized differently in different contexts and educational levels. The conception of student engagement in the Ethiopian context is not well established. To examine conceptions and practical experiences related to student engagement, we conducted a qualitative study of university students, instructors, and officials.…

This qualitative narrative inquiry study examined the narratives and experiences of White women admissions officers at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and explored how they engaged with the development of their white racial identity throughout their professional careers. Using Critical Whiteness Studies (CWS) and Helms' (1990) white racial…

With the demands on student learning and school accountability, school leaders and teachers must be provided with high-quality structures and conditions for effective and meaningful school improvement. This, coupled with highly effective leadership, is crucial. This qualitative study examines Illinois's current state comprehensive school…

The COVID-19 outbreak had far-reaching consequences, severely impacting various sectors of society, including higher education institutions (HEIs). This study explored the resilience of Ghana's higher education system during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the challenges faced, strategies adopted by institutions, and the factors that…

In its various forms, the Smiling Mind Primary School Program (the Program) has been delivered in Australian schools since 2016. The Program is a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program designed for primary school students in Years 1 to 6. It aims to support the mental wellbeing and emotional resilience of students. The…