PhD in Leadership and Change alumna Dr. Angela Quitadamo has published, Social-Emotional Climate in the Community College Classroom: An Action Research Study Investigating the Impact of Real-Time Student Feedback to Instructors. The scholarship focuses on the fact that community college students often have obligations outside the classroom (supporting dependents or working part-or full-time jobs), preventing them from participating in extracurricular activities and fulfilling their social-emotional needs on campus. As a result, they rely heavily on classroom interactions with their instructors to gain a sense of belonging and motivation necessary for optimal cognitive growth. This action research study was conducted at a rural community college in New England to learn if an informal feedback tool, given to students, could provide real-time data to instructors to enhance the social-emotional classroom environment. Thematic analysis was utilized to analyze and interpret the qualitative data from the inquiry group and student assessments. Four themes rose to prominence: True Feelings, Engaging Students, Instructor Approachability, and Remote Learning. At the close of the study instructors completed a summative evaluation and met again to review the synthesized data. This study showed how a more reflective and transformational view of classroom assessment with a focus on engagement benefited students and instructors.
Dr. Angela Quitadamo is an academic affairs professional with over twelve years of experience working at colleges and universities in student success and retention. As a first-generation college student, she has experience, empathy, and respect for traditional and adult learners balancing the demands of employment, family, and school.
Learn more about her and access the dissertation here.
