The call for transformation of nursing education continues to be supported by professional nursing organizations and nursing leaders. It is needed to support transition of nursing graduates who are facing an increasing technological work environment, higher patient acuity, and the challenges of making rapid critical decisions for care. The current…

This mixed method case study investigated student engagement at a regional technical high school. Having lagged in a variety of performance measures, the study sought to measure the current status of student engagement at Tech High, to identify engaging Tech High teachers and answer why they were considered engaging by students and administrators,…

Student engagement is more than attentiveness during instruction; it is the bedrock of making sense of knowledge materializing within classrooms. Yet, teachers in Texas are finding it daunting to amass engagement among Black students returning to in-person learning amid COVID-19. Challenges catalyzed by COVID-19 discriminatory practices emerging…

This study explores the efficacy of the Math Workshop Model in enhancing the capacity of secondary mathematics teachers to differentiate instruction, implement equitable teaching practices, and meet the diverse needs of students in mixed-ability classrooms. Through a mixed methods approach, including classroom observations, interviews, and surveys…

Integrating Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) into introductory STEM courses at the university level has been recognized as important in increasing persistence in STEM. A significant area of attrition from the STEM pathway, however, occurs during secondary school when student interest in STEM rapidly declines. In this study,…

Place-based educators recognize the importance of place in shaping learning, as our sense of place serves as a lens through which we interpret our experiences. Despite the growing prevalence of online environments in education, their impact on our sense of place remains largely unexplored. This case study employed critical case sampling to explore…

The problem was the decline in executive functioning skills of Grade 5 students in a consolidated independent school district in suburban Austin, Texas since the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this qualitative critical instance case study was to better understand the perceptions of teachers regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the executive…

Understanding how to foster belonging and ensure equitable engagement in STEM fields for diverse students is a critical need in education today. Despite substantial growth in the STEM workforce (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023; NSF, 2023a), there remain persistent gender and racial/ethnic gaps in students' access to advanced STEM education,…

Online learning has become a significant part of the strategic plan to increase enrollment and college access (Crawley, 2012). Allen & Seaman (2013) noted that more than 65% of U.S. higher education institutions believe that online education is necessary to sustain and continue progress toward their strategic planning goals to increase…

Online learning has become a significant part of the strategic plan to increase enrollment and college access (Crawley, 2012). Allen & Seaman (2013) noted that more than 65% of U.S. higher education institutions believe that online education is necessary to sustain and continue progress toward their strategic planning goals to increase…

The growth of online education has created the need for online full-time faculty to understand teaching strategies to support effective teaching. Little research has examined the strategies of online full-time faculty regarding large classes. This qualitative descriptive study explored how 27 online full-time faculty described their teaching…

This dissertation consists of a theoretical review and two empirical studies investigating college students' academic effort beliefs (AEB) and their relationship to academic functioning. The overarching goal of this project was to (a) better understand how college students think about effort as it relates to their academic endeavors, (b) develop a…

The increasing ubiquity of social media use among teenagers has resulted in varied research findings and often contradictory advice from experts. While there is evidence of negative outcomes for excessive use of social networking sites (SNS) by adolescents, there is also evidence of positive benefits of SNS to young people. This study focused on…

Student mathematics motivation and engagement in the first year of high school is critical because of its volatility (Mangu, Middleton, & Lee, 2016) and importance for future academic advancement and career opportunities (Trusty, & Niles, 2003). Following the quantitative longitudinal non-experimental design (O'Dwyer & Bernauer, 2013),…

Oftentimes, student engagement in the classroom is a challenge. Traditional instruction does not meet the learning needs of many urban at-risk students because they cannot relate to the teaching practices. Studies show instructional practices rich in culture can be implemented to improve engagement. The problem in this study was the lack of…