In this work, we introduce high school students to renewable energy through the exploration of the pyrolysis process, focusing on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into bio-oil. Students undertake a sequence of straightforward experiments in four sessions, using a handmade reactor and various types of biomasses. Outcomes such as yield…

This paper explores how authentic assessment can be implemented to enhance opportunities to develop employability skills through problem-solving tasks. Based on the eight key tenets of authentic assessment (Ashford-Rowe, Herrington and Brown, 2014), this paper presents formative and summative assessment case studies which were created in…

Mathematics anxiety (MA) refers to negative cognition and negative affect that interfere with mathematics performance. We examined the dimensionality of MA, measurement invariance across males and females, and whether the strength of relations between MA and mathematics performance varies by dimension and gender among 245 sixth-grade students.…

Mathematics anxiety (MA) refers to negative cognition and negative affect that interfere with mathematics performance. We examined the dimensionality of MA, measurement invariance across males and females, and whether the strength of relations between MA and mathematics performance varies by dimension and gender among 245 sixth-grade students.…

Drawing on a concept-map methodology, we investigated how 18 prospective elementary teachers (PSTs) conceptualize STEM thinking as habits of mind shared across STEM domains in the context of problem-solving prior to explicit classroom discussions about STEM thinking. A 28-question, 5-point Likert-scale survey was used to explore PSTs' orientations…

In higher education, the entry-level, not-for-credit courses in Developmental Education play a pivotal role for incoming degree-seeking students. Focusing specifically on Developmental Writing, at two- and four-year public and private institutions across the country, a common requirement to pass the course is a summative argumentative essay that…

This dissertation seeks to investigate how digital gestures connect to students' mathematical understanding when playing "From Here to There!" (FH2T). This investigation explores the intersection of three fields, game-based learning, embodied cognition, and mathematics education. I used three studies which break down the different…

The General Educational Development (GED) is a high school equivalency credential sought after by millions of Americans who do not hold a traditional high school diploma. This program evaluation offers insight to a local adult GED program as it seeks to increase the retention and GED completion rates of the students in their program. The…

This applied dissertation was designed to analyze the effect Melodic Based Communication Therapy has on minimally verbal children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly tact responses and their generalization in the natural environment. MBCT is a replicable protocol for pairing melodies with target words to elicit speech in children…

Collaboration skills and critical thinking skills are two real-life competencies in the 21st century. These two skills are believed to be related to one another. However, research on the magnitude of the correlation between the two skills is rarely investigated. Empowerment of these two skills cannot be separated from the learning model. This…

There is a critical need to understand the factors that influence the development of students' skills for using the Internet to search for and locate information. Teachers play an important role in this process and there is a related impetus to identify the dynamics of instruction in information-seeking activities. This study investigated German…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review of literature focused on the effects of developmental language disorder (DLD) on writing skills across the life span to highlight gaps in our knowledge of how to support writing for this population. Method: We adopted the five-step framework for conducting scoping reviews outlined…

In this article the author describes an intervention program for students who were approximately six months behind expected standards. The program, "Prepare 2 Learn," had four components: building prior knowledge; developing mental computational fluency; encouraging a growth mindset; and meta-cognitive strategies. The qualitative data…

This exploratory phenomenological qualitative study investigated the role of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) social-emotional competencies in five first-generation doctoral students' experiences in higher education. Data were collected via a written open-ended questionnaire and one-on-one in-depth interviews…

Having paraprofessional providers, such as youth mentors, deliver evidence-based services, has been posited to increase the reach of youth services given the affordability and ubiquity of mentors in school settings. Further, examinations of mentor-delivered Motivational Interviewing (MI) have shown promise in increasing youth mentees' academic…