The creation and evaluation of known evolutionary histories and the implementation of student investigatory experiences on evolution are difficult endeavors that have only recently been feasible. The research presented in this dissertation is related in their shared use of digital evolution with Avidians as a model study system, both to conduct…

The composition of the American workforce is quickly shifting, with Millennials assuming leadership positions early in their careers due to Baby Boomer generation retirements and the relatively small Generation-X population. Using an exploratory narrative case study design, I empirically documented the leader identity development of seven…

The number of Chicanx and Latinx students in U.S. public school settings increased significantly at the close of the last century and continues to increase well into the 21st century. The numbers of Chicanx and Latinx, and more specifically Chicana and Latina, high school principals, however, have remained disproportionately low. Studies that…

This single-case, descriptive study explored one K-4 teacher candidate's identity and attempts to teach toward social justice within and beyond a series of small group discussions in a Professional Development School context. More specifically, it studied how this teacher candidate positioned her identity through the lenses of social justice…

This research study explored the relationship between test anxiety and growth mindset for fifth grade elementary students in a midwestern, urban district. Researchers compared the levels of test anxiety and growth mindset for elementary students using the "Implicit Theory of Intelligence Scale" (ITIS) and the "Children's Test…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore how the Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) supported Advanced Placement (AP) teacher's instructional needs considering the expansion of the AP program in recent decades. Design/methodology/approach: A survey including Likert-style and open-ended questions was distributed to participants at…

Purpose: With the rapid transition of education from the traditional, classroom- or campus-based to the online format, there grows a need for not only taking advantage of online technology but also assessing actual and potential effects it can make on the learners, learning, education, and society. One of the risks inherent in online learning is…

A generic qualitative research design was used with the primary purpose of hearing experiences of counselor educators concerning their views of online course development while integrating 2016 Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Standards to acquire themes for the research study. The study targeted a…

Implicit biases are the internal perceptions and stereotypes that all humans learn through life experiences, priming, and childhood teaching; however, when implicit bias thinking is not recognized, it has been proven to lead to discriminatory and prejudicial thinking and behavior. These biases have been found in school system policies down through…

This dissertation conducted two studies that examined two methods of instructional planning to effectively match students to a whole number computation intervention that would best meet their needs. Study 1 was a systematic synthesis of all studies that used brief experimental analysis (BEA) to determine an effective mathematics intervention for…

Over the past years, researchers have explored the lived experiences of people of color, namely Black women, in academia. Examiners have learned that Black women often learn how to succeed in academia but at the expense of their mental well-being and even in the midst of oppressive situations. Most of the work previously presented was largely…

Learning to write programs is hard, but many fail to even learn basic program reading skills, such as mentally tracing a program to predict its behavior. This dissertation argues a new theory of programming language knowledge that includes mappings from syntax to semantics and their nested combinations can serve as the basis for more granular…

The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act requires that students experiencing homelessness are provided with a free, appropriate public education and requires states and districts to address the barriers and challenges they may experience (42 U.S.C. §11431 et seq.). Implementation occurs largely at the state and local levels by…

College students balance multiple demands while pursuing their educational objectives and aspire to attain a career aligned with their area of study. For first-generation and underrepresented students, their backgrounds contribute additional considerations to the career development journey. Understanding how identity informs career development is…

The seminary endeavor has transitioned from a primarily residential full-time undertaking to a project assumed by individuals in a multiplicity of life-stages and in less traditional and less-residency-oriented formats. The burgeoning modality of competency-based theological education (CBTE) may offer an alternate approach to traditional…