The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine how, and to what degree learning methods (student-centered or instructor-centered) and gender independently or interactively made a difference in adult student achievement. The Wechsler Individual Achievement Test Third Edition (WIAT-III) was utilized to measure…

Touted as the future of language teaching, task-based pedagogy is grounded in current Second Language Acquisition (SLA) theories, and is in line with the trend of learner-centeredness in general education. However, the method has yet to be fully embraced by the language teaching community due to the lack of 1) clear delineation of pedagogical…

This narrative inquiry study explored the transformational learning experiences of students who attended Christian colleges and universities in the United States. The problem addressed in this study is the need for Christian colleges and universities to identify what constitutes and contributes to the transformative experiences conveyed by…

The presence of women and people of color in the engineering workforce is essential to ensuring a wide range of perspectives are considered as engineers engage in solving crucial problems within a heterogeneous world. Engineering programs, however, struggle to retain women and people of color thus affecting their participation in the engineering…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive single case study was to understand how college instructors across a variety of discipline areas described the development of their instructional strategies to embed sense of community and cognitive presence in a blended class environment at a university in the Midwest United States. The Community of…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the most important and feasible factors required for reform and successful inclusion of substance use prevention curriculum into aging-infused certificate and degree programs at 4-year universities. Methodology: This study employed a Delphi technique through three iterative rounds to gather data…

This dissertation attempts to understand how students in post-secondary education apply and participate in the self-determined learning model called heutagogy and how it might impact their rate of success. The study aimed at defining students' perceptions of heutagogy as a framework for higher education and to examine whether those perceptions…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact and interactions of student-centered instructional techniques on College Algebra student engagement, mathematics attitudes, and achievement. At my place of practice, instructional shifts towards student-centered and social-efficiency models of instruction are taking place, supported by…

Moral development is a significant issue in education, yet there is no concrete understanding of how moral learning and moral reasoning are integrated into higher education institutions, especially without a religious connotation. This study aimed to explore the relationship between learner-centered practice, moral development, and moral reasoning…

The high stop-out rate of low-SES students in higher education is a significant challenge, with these students stopping out at nearly triple the rate of their peers. Beyond financial, academic, and psychosocial hurdles, a lower sense of belonging further hinders their success, especially when they attempt to resume their educational journey. This…

The purpose of this study was to examine how to best develop and enhance critical and analytical thinking skills amongst college students enrolled in history and/or social studies courses. Through traditional, lecture style instruction, as well as a cooperative and collaborative learning pedagogy known as Reacting to the Past, this study was…

There is a need in higher education to improve STEM instruction to increase retention, particularly of minoritized students. Student-centered instruction (SCI) requires students to be engaged in the classroom and interact with their peers. Previous research has revealed the benefits of student-centered instruction (SCI) (Theobald, 2020). However,…

Adolescent girls in developing countries, especially those from impoverished backgrounds, face many challenges, such as cultural preference for sons, child marriage, and gender-based violence and harassment, which limit their access, opportunities, and leadership skills. The purpose of this study was to create a virtual empowerment and leadership…

With the increasing growth of online courses, broadening of the student population, and the growing concern over retention rates, examination of learner online participation and possible relationships with motivation is becoming increasingly appropriate in higher education. Online learners are important and viable clients for universities,…

The college union, having served as a thriving community center on college campuses for more than 100 years, is a compelling venue to discuss physical space and community. The purpose of this study is to understand how highly rated unions make meaning of community, to identify common elements of college unions that are evident in campus community,…