by Rory Hill
This year’s 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition at the BYU McKay School of Education highlighted the groundbreaking research of graduate students tackling critical educational and psychological challenges. The event, which tasked participants with distilling their complex research into a compelling three-minute presentation, showcased the talent and dedication of McKay School students in addressing real-world issues.
"The Three-Minute Thesis Contest is a wonderful showcase of important research being done in the McKay School by students and faculty,” said Lynette Christensen, the Center for the Improvement of Teacher Education and Schooling (CITES) Research Administrator. “Perhaps even more important, it clearly shows how talented our McKay School graduates are and their commitment to work on complicated issues that impact the quality of life of so many. Part of the mission of the McKay School is to 'nurture the full potential in others—for the benefit of the world.' The 3MT contest provides a glimpse of how the work of our students contributes to this lofty endeavor."
The event, which challenges graduate students to present their research succinctly and compellingly within just three minutes, highlighted the depth and impact of student-led studies addressing significant educational and psychological challenges. Participants who won first, second, and third places also received cash prizes of $500, $300, and $200 to fund their research.
First Place: Rhonda Harris, PhD Candidate in Counseling Psychology
Rhonda Harris took home first place for her powerful research on the challenges faced by student mothers in higher education. Through focus groups and interviews, Harris uncovered the systemic barriers and lack of institutional support that often lead student mothers to burnout and academic setbacks.
“If universities do not recognize the challenges faced by student mothers, they may indirectly reinforce these struggles, diminishing mental health and academic success,” said Harris. “Having an office on campus dedicated to student mothers with a specialist or advocate would reduce burdens and signal to student mothers that they belong here on campus.”
Harris’s research emphasizes the need for centralized campus resources dedicated to supporting student mothers, advocating for a future where these women can access the help they need without unnecessary obstacles.
Second Place: Pam Smalley, PhD Candidate in Instructional Psychology and Technology
Pam Smalley’s research explored the role of AI-powered chatbots in flipped classrooms. Recognizing the challenge students face when struggling with difficult concepts outside class hours, Smalley and her research partners developed an AI tutor designed to provide real-time support.
"Chatbots aren’t replacing teachers. They’re supporting them," Smalley explained. Her study demonstrated that interactive AI tools could enhance student engagement, confidence, and even test scores, making flipped classroom models more effective.
Third Place: Papa Kobina Enyimah Moses, PhD Candidate in Educational Inquiry, Measurement, and Evaluation
Papa Moses’s research focused on equitable teaching practices and how teacher motivations influence their ability to foster inclusive classrooms. He examined how pre-service teachers’ altruistic and intrinsic motivations predict their equitable dispositions and commitment to serving students from marginalized communities.
"The joy of fostering opportunities for students from marginalized communities was a key predictor of equitable dispositions in our study," Moses noted. His work highlights the importance of teacher training programs that prioritize equity and advocacy.
The competition also featured impressive presentations from other candidates, each addressing critical issues in education:
Lauren Astle: Investigated how highly effective elementary teachers help students with challenging behaviors unlock literacy potential.
Laurel Bishop: Studied the gender gap in autism diagnosis and how masking behaviors contribute to underdiagnosis in females.
Alexa Darracq-Vainerere: Evaluated the impact of peer mentoring programs on student well-being and sense of belonging.
Brooke Overly: Researched the implementation of CW Fit classroom management techniques in Career and Technical Education (CTE) settings.
Katherine Paget: Compared first-year learning seminars and learning communities to understand their impact on student retention.
Kari Tanner: Proposed an open badge system for language learners to recognize and motivate out-of-classroom language use.
Katie Watkins: Analyzed longitudinal tutoring’s effectiveness in helping multilingual students improve their writing skills.
With the McKay School’s competition concluded, Harris, who won first place, now prepares to represent the college in BYU’s university-wide 3MT competition on March 13th. This next stage will bring together top graduate researchers from various disciplines, offering them a platform to share their impactful work with a broader audience.
As this year’s competition demonstrated, the McKay School of Education continues to be a hub of innovative and socially impactful research. Through their work, these graduate students are contributing to a brighter future in education and beyond.