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Dr. Melanie DiLoreto

Biography

Dr. Melanie DiLoreto is an instructor in the School of Education. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in foundations, research, assessment, measurement, and advanced data analyses.

Dr. DiLoreto was a leader of UWF’s successful effort to win $540,000 in ongoing grants from the Florida Department of Education to develop methods to assess the content of hard-to-measure K-12 courses such as physical education, music, and art.  Additionally, she obtained two faculty research grants to study student engagement in online learning environments.  She also recently published the textbook, Testing & Measurement: A Practical Guide for Classroom Teachers and Aspiring Educational Leaders.

Her research areas include engagement in online learning, educational assessment, program evaluation, scale development, and measurement modeling.

Publications carrying Dr. DiLoreto’s work include International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, Psychology Research, The Journal of Correctional Education, Journal of Practitioner Research, International Journal of Learning, and Teaching and Educational Research.

Degrees & Institutions

Dr. DiLoreto has a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in Educational Research, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment. She has two degrees from UWF including a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with specializations in curriculum development and school counseling.

Research

  • Research Methodology
  • Survey Research
  • Applied Statistics
  • Structural Equation Modeling
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Educational Assessment
  • Program Evaluation
  • Psychometrics

Current Courses

  • Foundations of Measurement
  • Educational Assessment
  • Evaluating Curricula and Programs
  • Test, Measurement, and Data Literacy

Classes Taught

  • Classroom Management
  • Educational Assessment for Learning
  • Test and Measurement
  • Planning and Curriculum
  • Student Teaching and Field Experiences
  • Curriculum Issues and Trends
  • Educational Foundations

Publications

DiLoreto, M. (2018).  Clinical field experiences of nontraditional pre-service teachers: Issues and beliefs.  Journal of Practitioner Research, 3(2), 1-13.

DiLoreto, M., Ash, G., Johnson, J., Shope, S., & Kokiko, C. (2017).  A collaborative model for innovative facility-based educational programing:  The JCESC-EOCC oil and gas certification training program.  Journal of Correctional Education, 68(3), 3-18.

DiLoreto, M., Pellow, C., & Stout, D. L. (2017).  Exploration of conceptions of assessment within high-stakes U.S. culture.  International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 16(7), 1-9.

DiLoreto, M., & Gaines, T. (2016).  An investigation of discrepancies between qualitative and quantitative findings in survey research.  International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 15(12), 145-154.

Gray, J., & DiLoreto, M. (2016).  The effects of student engagement, student satisfaction, and perceived learning in online learning environments.  International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, 11(1), 98-119.

DiLoreto, M., Nguyen, G., & Stout, D. L. (2015).  CARI: A model of assessment for educator preparation programs. Psychology Research, 5(4), 238-248.  doi:10.17265/2159-5542/2015.04.003

DiLoreto, M. (Winter 2011). Case Study: University of West Florida creates a culture of assessment. Tk20 Newsletter. http://www.tk20.com/newsletter/Assessment_Practices_3_UWF.html

Research Reports

Schutts, J., & DiLoreto, M. (2017). Validity and Reliability Report: TEEL Employer Survey (Research Report). Prepared for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida, Office of Assessment and Strategic Planning.

Gray, J., & DiLoreto, M. (2015).  Student satisfaction and perceived learning in online learning environments: The mediating effect of student engagement (Research Report).  Retrieved from Academic Partnerships Faculty eCommons Featured Research website:  http://facultyecommons.com/featured-research/

DiLoreto, M., Wheatley, K, Morganson, V. J., Assefa, J., O’Neill, S., McKinley, D., Nguyen, G. N., & Kass, S. J. (2015). Music Education: Curriculum guidelines and comprehensive model of assessment. Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Wheatley, K, Morganson, V. J., Assefa, J., O’Neill, S., McKinley, D., Nguyen, G. N., & Kass, S. J. (2015). Physical Education: Curriculum guidelines and comprehensive model of assessment. Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Wheatley, K, Morganson, V. J., Assefa, J., O’Neill, S., McKinley, D., Nguyen, G. N., & Kass, S. J. (2015). Visual Arts Education: Curriculum guidelines and comprehensive model of assessment. Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Wheatley, K, Morganson, V. J., Assefa, J., O’Neill, S., McKinley, D., Nguyen, G. N., & Kass, S. J. (2015). Race to the Top FLDOE developed student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas (Music, Visual Arts, and Physical Education): Phase II. (Vol. III: References and Appendices). Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Wheatley, K, Morganson, V. J., Assefa, J., O’Neill, S., McKinley, D., Nguyen, G. N., & Kass, S. J. (2015). Race to the Top FLDOE developed student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas (Music, Visual Arts, and Physical Education): Phase II. (Vol. II: Literature Review and Methods). Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Wheatley, K, Morganson, V. J., Assefa, J., O’Neill, S., McKinley, D., Nguyen, G. N., & Kass, S. J. (2015). Race to the Top FLDOE developed student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas (Music, Visual Arts, and Physical Education): Phase II. (Vol. I: Recommendations and Implementation). Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Morganson, V. J., Arruda, J.E., Kessler, K., Biddle, M., O’Neill, S., Crawford, S., Sunwall, R., Kildare, A., & Kass, S. J. (2014). Student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas (performing arts, visual arts, and physical education): A review of the literature, survey of U.S. practices, and recommendations. Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., Kass, S.J., Morganson, V.J., Arruda, J.E., Kessler, K., Biddle, M., O’Neill, S., Crawford, S., Sunwall, R., & Kildare, A. (2014). Student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas (performing arts, visual arts, and physical education): A review of the literature, survey of U.S. practices, and recommendations. Prepared for the Florida Department of Education Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Pensacola, FL: University of West Florida.

DiLoreto, M., & Blackwell, A. (2013). Technology: Pre-service teachers’ beliefs, use, and expertise. Prepared for The University of Southern Mississippi College of Education and Psychology. Hattiesburg, MS: The University of Southern Mississippi.

DiLoreto, M., & Blackwell, A. (2013). Employer satisfaction with teacher education graduates’ ability to integrate technology into the classroom. Prepared for The University of Southern Mississippi College of Education and Psychology. Hattiesburg, MS: The University of Southern Mississippi.

Grants

Academic Partnerships Faculty Research Grant, (2018-2019).  An investigation of faculty and undergraduate students’ beliefs about student engagement activities in online courses.  Role:  Principal Investigator, Amount:  $4,000.

Academic Partnerships Faculty Research Grant, (2014-2015). Student satisfaction and perceived learning in online learning environments: The mediating effect of student engagement. Role: Principal Investigator, Amount: $5,000.

Florida Department of Education. (2014-2015). Race to the top FLDOE developed student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas. Role: Lead Co-Principal Investigator, Amount: $290,215.

Florida Department of Education. (2013-2014). Race to the top FLDOE developed student growth models for hard-to-measure course content areas. Role: Co-Principal Investigator, Amount: $250,284.

Keywords: assessing content of hard-to-measure courses, teacher preparation impact on K-12 student learning, educational policy, educational assessment, research and measurement methods, student engagement in online learning, assessment of educator preparation, employers’ satisfaction with teachers’ ability to integrate technology into the classroom