This qualitative case study responds to a significant gap in the literature in the area of gamification for vocabulary study among international students in higher education. It aims to respond to a call for a more in-depth qualitative analysis of gamification techniques on student learning experiences in comparison to the more commonplace…

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to add the voices and counter-stories of five Black women who attend community colleges to the discourse and literature concerning their co-curricular involvement experiences and persistence. I used critical race theory (CRT) as the theoretical framework to understand how involvement in…

Substance use in America remains a public health crisis, especially given the ongoing opioid epidemic and an alarming spike in overdose related deaths. Institutions of higher education have a unique opportunity to provide realistic measures of sustained substance use disorder (SUD) recovery through collegiate recovery programs (CRP) that employ…

This dissertation examined the relationship between participation in an academic coaching program and retention for community college students enrolled in developmental education courses. With low retention and completion rates for students beginning in developmental courses, support programs to improve student success are needed. This…

Black Greek Letter Fraternities are part of America's history and include notable individuals such as Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, W.E.B. Dubois, and Jesse Jackson. The foundation for each of them was a postsecondary education at either a Historically Black University and College (HBCU) or a Predominantly White Institution (PWI). What…

While many education researchers have characterized the impromptu nature of classroom teaching as "improvisation," few studies of teacher education or professional development (PD) have examined the potential of improvisation workshops for equipping teachers to face unforeseen classroom moments productively. In this dissertation, I…

The purpose of this study was to build upon existing research that explored teachers' professional learning expectations and how teachers can utilize social media platforms or social learning environments to aid their professional learning. This information may be used to support thinking differently about time and space for both student and adult…

New challenges in today's world have contributed to increased attention toward evaluating individuals' collaborative problem solving (CPS) skills. One difficulty with this work is identifying evidence of individuals' CPS capabilities, particularly when interacting in digital spaces. Often human-driven approaches are used but are limited in scale.…

Heritage language speakers, those who have or claim a connection with the language of their ancestors, have become a group of interest in the United States, especially since programs to serve this population were initiated four decades ago thanks to the advocacy of grassroots organizations. Still, the reach of those programs is minimal and the…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored elementary school principals in the northeastern United States perceptions of the influence of systems, structures and practices that incorporate student voice in the decision-making school governance structure, emphasizing Black and Latino students. Additionally, the study focused on understanding…

In an era of data saturation, teacher educators have yet to address the problem of how to develop the critical statistical literacy of practicing teachers. This study contributes to our understanding of teaching learning, specifically considering how designed materials can make visible the identity work of practicing secondary mathematics…

Population growth and migration patterns have shown an influx of residents from rural to urban environments. To deal with the problems caused by unprecedented urban influx, cities should plan to use technology in a smart and distinctive way. Tackling at the city scale is hard. But a set of smart buildings that are interconnected by technology will…

For this qualitative study, the research explored the barriers that prevent parental involvement among families of middle school Black boys in grades five through eight. Studies have indicated the complexities of engaging the parents of Black male students. Based on the premise that parental involvement positively impacts academic and behavioral…

Due to many factors, particularly developments in technology, LIS professionals need to continuously refresh and upgrade their knowledge and skills through participation in continuing professional development (CPD) activities. The objective of this pilot study was to understand LIS employees' perceptions, motivation, assessment, and preference for…

Assigning grades is conventionally the exclusive, lonely terrain of the instructor, even as other aspects of responding to student writing are collaborative. As an alternative that promotes student engagement and agency, labor-based contract grading is used in a growing number of writing classrooms. This article describes an alternative:…