Innovative learning environments are increasingly built and implemented in schools, but are not necessarily being used according to designers' intentions. The goal of this study was to examine teacher perceptions of the innovative learning spaces they were charged with using and to determine if they were being used effectively and as designed. The…

The growing number of U.S. engineering jobs signifies a need for more students to pursue engineering degrees. To increase access to engineering education, in 2015, Texas A&M University established Engineering Academies (EA) in cooperation with selected community colleges. The problem addressed in this study was a lack of knowledge about why…

Environmental health literacy (EHL) is a relatively new discipline and is gaining importance as the environmental justice movement is embraced in the United States through state and federal government programs. With the expansion of EHL programs throughout the country, and with more states incorporating EHL education into the K-12 curriculum,…

This study examined teachers' current knowledge on trauma and trauma-informed practices. More specifically, the purpose of this study was to identify whether teachers and staff within the school setting feel confident in being able to work with immigrant and refugee children and whether teachers would benefit from having training on trauma and…

In the evolving landscape of gaming, a need for reliable methods to differentiate expertise levels among players has emerged. This study defines experts by their exceptional skills, domain-specific knowledge, and successful application of these attributes in complex situations. Unlike conventional methods that rely on self-reported experience for…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer, (LGBTQ) students experience a chillier campus climate on college and university campuses than do their heterosexual peers (Rankin et al., 2010). Colleges and universities have worked to expand resources for LGBTQ students. Campus Pride, Inc. developed the Campus Pride Index (CPI) that allows colleges…

The world faces an imminent environmental crisis, highlighting the role of effective Environmental Education (EE) in cultivating an environmentally literate society capable of making informed decisions regarding individual and collective environmental actions. A primary goal of EE is the promotion of pro-environmental behaviour, a complex outcome…

Scientists have warned about climate change since the 1950's. Anthropomorphic conditions, such as patterns of personal consumption, have amplified the impacts of climatic shifts. Educational campaigns that promote sustainable consumption could potentially mitigate the environmental impacts of overconsumption. While this pattern seems to be…

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore pre-licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students' knowledge of mindfulness meditation (MM) using a smartphone app (SMA) to manage stress and promote resilience. Guiding this study was the transactional model of stress, adaptation, and coping by Lazarus and Folkman (1984)…

This dissertation is an invitation into our beloved biology classroom. Weaving hermeneutic phenomenology and critical participatory teacher action research, this study investigated self as teacher and two cohorts of student participants in a high school biology experience utilizing an 'Aina Aloha praxis. Articulating my ongoing 'Aina Aloha praxis,…

In this dissertation I trace my changing practices as a teacher and a learner. I look closely at three questions that have been centrally important to my development as a high school English teacher, and I consider what it might mean for English classes to induct newcomers into the conversations, identities, and dispositions at the heart of…

A primary concern in academic institutions is the high frequency of academic dishonesty among students. Concerns surrounding this issue negatively affect the institution's reputation and the acquisition of external funding. The purpose of this research was to explore the increasing prevalence of academic dishonesty at higher education…

Sexual violence (SV) is a global public health crisis of pandemic proportions. Sexual harassment (SH) and violence are pervasive on college campuses, negatively impacting students, faculty, and staff. To address this, U.S. universities are required by federal law to implement EBP programs to foster awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and…

Significant environmental impacts such as climate change, reduction in biodiversity, increasing food scarcity, impacts on water supply and availability, and exacerbation of human health problems are occurring and are expected to increase. Despite these environmental challenges the teaching of California's environmental literacy standards, the…

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often struggle with comorbid disorders like anxiety. However, special education teachers may lack the training to implement specific interventions in the classroom setting for adolescents with ASD and anxiety. This qualitative action research study was conducted to examine how special education…