Quality assurance in higher education extends beyond the boundaries of formal learning to encompass the recognition of non-formal and informal learning experiences. Non-formal and informal learning play a significant role in individuals' acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies. Recognizing the value of these alternative learning…

This dissertation was conducted using case study methodology to examine how teachers of different content areas integrate media literacy into their instruction to address the specialized knowledge and discourses of their disciplines after participating in a media literacy online professional development, how they applied the content from the…

Student-athletes represents a large population within college communities and finding balance between the two identities of "student" and "athlete" can prove to be challenging. Researchers have shown that conflicts between the two identities exist, but there exists a limited number of studies in which scholars have analyzed the…

This dissertation reports on three studies about students' conceptions and learning of the idea of instantaneous rate of change. The first study investigated 25 students' conceptions of the idea of instantaneous rate of change. The second study proposes a hypothetical learning trajectory, based on the literature and results from the first study,…

This qualitative phenomenological research study used narrative inquiry to explore teacher perceptions of both traditional and virtual professional development in schools. Structured interviews were implemented with fifteen participants to determine differing teacher perceptions on professional development, and the results of this study support…

Service-learning is defined and applied in myriad ways across the world. While the roots of this pedagogy lie in the well-intentioned acts of addressing unmet social needs and, in general, helping people, this has not always been the outcome of the interactions. In many cases, engaging in service-learning has led to harmful reproductions of…

One challenge in STEM education is the learning of technical terms. In order to reason about higher-order scientific concepts, knowledge of technical vocabulary is often a prerequisite. Improving this knowledge may enhance the learning of higher-order concepts because it reduces cognitive load students experience while learning. To that end, we…

Objective: Readiness assurance testing has enjoyed increased use as a tool for the delivery and reinforcement of pharmacy concepts. This study was conducted to determine the influence of the readiness assurance test (RAT) on major examination outcomes in pharmacy calculations. Methods: The Blackboard Learning Management System was identified as an…

School bullying is a complex social phenomenon in need of further exploration regarding its connections to contextual aspects, group norms, and societal structures. This calls for research approaches that can get closer to participants' experiences and the different social processes involved in school bullying. One such approach is the…

Different people react differently to disasters, hazards, and risks depending on how they view those risks. Various factors can influence these risk perceptions, including demographic characteristics, such as gender and previous experience. Disaster education (DE) has been identified as a method to positively influence risk perception and reduce…

A sizeable proportion of adults has learning disabilities (LD); along with having LD, incidence of other disabilities and health conditions is a concern. Adults with LD face educational and employment challenges as well. Little is known about their skills in numeracy and digital literacy and how they use those skills, whether in the workplace or…

Economic literacy is critical for success in one's career and life. Such literacy has never been more relevant than today due to supply-chain issues causing product shortages, surging inflation, and rising interest rates. Discovery learning through active learning materials discussed in this article were employed with fifth and sixth-grade…

Educational games have consistently proved that they are valuable didactic instruments, which can contribute to teaching and learning in an enjoyable background. In organic chemistry courses, considerable effort has been made to encourage the learning of nomenclature, an important topic, often perceived as complex, boring, and unconnected to other…

As electrochemistry continues to gain broader acceptance and use within the organic chemistry community, it is important that advanced undergraduate students are exposed to fundamental and practical knowledge of electrochemical applications for chemical synthesis. Herein, we describe the development of an undergraduate laboratory experience that…

The overhead mechanical stirrer is a versatile and valuable tool for the laboratory. Even a low-end mechanical stirrer is rather expensive and can pose serious safety concerns for use by high school or undergraduate students. The construction and application of a low-cost overhead mechanical stirrer is described in this work. The mechanical…