Education Commons^™

Determinants Of Performance In Smallholder Farmer Groups In Uganda, David Agole, Connie D. Baggett, John C. Ewing, Edgar P. Yoder, Margaret N. Mangheni

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education

The performance of farmer groups is critical for the success of the farmer-led Agricultural Extension approach currently used in Uganda. This study examines factors affecting performance of farmer groups accessing agricultural extension and advisory services from the National Agricultural Advisory Services in Eastern Uganda. The study collected data 200 members of 19 farmer groups in Eastern Uganda. Performance of farmer groups was the dependent variable, which was perceived to be influenced by individual members’ objectives, participation culture, power distance, structure of task, perceived equity, reward allocation and participation in group activities. Farmer group performance had a statistically significant positive relationship …

Doctoral Studies As Learning To Rename The World, Hyleen Mariaye

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

The reflective experience documented in this paper engages with doctoral learning from Freire’s (1968/2000) conceptual lens of naming the world. Written from the narrative lens of the supervisor, it considers how doctoral level studies in education can position both the supervisor and the candidates as agents actively reconstructing their understanding of the world and their place in it. The doctoral journey is viewed as praxis compelling researchers to expand their frames for reading the world, accommodating the other, including multiple voices and thus demonstrating commitment to a global and yet constantly contested notion of citizenship.

Poetry And Praxis: Lessons From An Activist Educator, Dr. Emmanuel Tabi

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

Drawing on data from a narrative multi-case study based in Toronto, Canada, this article discusses the lived experiences of one Black activist. Utilizing critical race theory, new literacy studies and the rhetoric of cultural production as theoretical frameworks, the article foregrounds the work of Ebele, a Toronto activist whose work supported the educational trajectories and emotional well-being of Black students, many of whom reported being marginalized in school. Through his creative labor, Ebele directly addressed the sociology of anti-Black racism that deeply influences the lives of Afrodiasporic people in Canada. This article continues the conversation about what it means to …

Connecting Diverse Communities Through A 4-H Urban-Rural Experience, Laurie Murrah-Hanson, Brittani Lee, Pamela Bloch

The Journal of Extension

Misconceptions regarding agricultural careers are exacerbated by increasing urbanization and are one of many differences in perspective between urban and rural communities. The One Georgia 4-H Urban-Rural Experience addresses this divide through a statewide youth exchange focusing on the agricultural sector. The program includes a multifaceted look at agricultural careers through visits to urban and rural communities. Focus group evaluations revealed the impact on youth through exposure to new careers, increased understanding of the diversity of agriculture, awareness of the interconnected nature of urban and rural communities, and a sense of belonging to a diverse group of youth.

Challenges Experienced By Aquaponic Hobbyists, Producers, And Educators, D Allen Pattillo, David J. Cline, Janelle V. Hager, Luke A. Roy, Terrill R. Hanson

The Journal of Extension

We used an online survey to document challenges experienced by aquaponic hobbyists (n = 81), producers (n = 117), and educators (n = 75). Responses were distilled into the following categories: 1) operations and management; 2) facilities, location, and system design; 3) knowledge and educational resources; 4) funding; 5) economic viability; 6) plant culture; 7) marketing and distribution; 8) fish culture; 9) human factors; 10) regulations and certifications. Training and research in these areas are needed to advance the aquaponics industry.

Potential Risks Inherent In Robotic Process Automation, Colin L. Robinson, David Y. Chan

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

Robotic process automation (RPA) uses automation technologies to perform tasks typically performed by humans. Although such technology has been instrumental in expediting business operations and lowering costs, it has also created several risks that warrant scrutiny. When discussing the drawbacks of automation, many will point to the number of jobs lost to the influx of automation. However, there are technology risks that organizations must consider such as fraud and cybersecurity. Fraudsters may utilize RPA to commit more novel and subtle technological and cyber security fraud. Organizations may implement internal control measures to prevent or mitigate such schemes, segregation of duties, …

Consumer Boycotts In The Time Of War Crisis: An Efficient Citizenship Strategy Or A Temporary Spurt Of Solidarity, Jolanta Zralek

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

By drawing from the theory of consumer citizenship, collective activism, and consumer boycotts, this article strives to understand the nature of the current calls for consumer resistance and the following consumers’ actions that resulted from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In particular, by utilizing Friedman’s (1991) taxonomy of boycotts, we aimed to identify the character, motives, and tools of ongoing boycotts and thus estimated their actual and probable effectiveness. The main research questions in this paper concern what type of consumer boycotts we currently observe, what the aims and motives are of current boycotting, and whether the noticed boycotting attempts …

Leveraging Next-Gen Technology For Supply Chain Security, Thomas Drape, Reginald P. Parker

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

Global supply chain disruptions continue as part of both a national and global discussion. There is a need for a greater focus on supply chain security as part of this discussion as there is an increasing amount of counterfeit parts and goods within global supply chains. While counterfeit activity is an economic burden to companies and the global market, there are also legitimate concerns on consumer safety, consumer trust and company brand management.

The aim for this paper is to identify the concern and extent of the counterfeit problem and identify the use of next-gen technologies to provide brand protection …

Sustainability Across The Supply Chain: A Case Study In The Automotive Industry, Jane Siegler, Angelyn Bidlack, Sarah Harrison

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals have been widely adopted and implemented by organizations worldwide. However, with 17 goals and 169 targets, the decision on what to focus on and invest in are not trivial tasks. This research focuses on a major Tier-1 automotive supplier, here identified as CMF. With annual sales of 16 billion euros (2021), one in every three vehicles in the world is equipped with some form of CMF technology. The objective of this research was to evaluate CMF’s value chain and understand the challenges and opportunities related to the United Nations 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). …

Covid-19 And Culture: Individualism Versus Collectivism, Short-Term Versus Long-Term Orientation, And Indulgence Versus Restraint, Charles Lanier, Navpreet Pooni

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

To some degree, all social behaviors may be affected by cultural influences. So which national cultures could be positive influences or negative influences on the prevention of a contagion? (Roser et al., 2020). This paper explores regression models for predicting initial Covid-19 cases per capita by country utilizing only Hofstede’s six Cultural Dimensions (Hofstede et al., 2010).

Regression techniques were applied to develop predictive models for initial Covid-19 rates. Two proposed models were found that explained 54% and 60% of the variability in numbers of initial Covid-19 cases by country: The first model included only Individualism, and the second included …

Study Of The Impact Of Working At Home And The Fears Of Returning To Work Among Managers And Professionals Who Are In Virtual Congruent Jobs And Who Are High Growth/Achievement Oriented, Carmine Gibaldi, Gerald Cusack, Niall Hegarty

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

Using two surveys, this article examines employee opinions on working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic. In March 2020 we chronicled the experience and reactions of 478 managers and professionals to the mandate they work at home. We found that a large portion of the respondents felt no significant loss in productivity and no reduction in job satisfaction. Most of the challenges they faced had involved efforts required to establish a facilitating home working environment and disruptions in the ease of collaboration with others. The opportunities overwhelmingly focused on the benefits of having more time to rebalance their work and …

Economic Implications Of State-Wide Covid-19 Response Aggressiveness, Bryan Foltice, Michael Edward Parker

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

This paper aims to evaluate how the aggressiveness of each state’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic affected their respective economies from Q2, 2020 through Q2, 2021. In our study, we utilize the scale developed by McCann (2021, April 6), which ranks the least aggressive state response to the most aggressive state response at three different points of the pandemic. Through this methodology, we test the impact of the aggressiveness of each state governments’ response with the resulting economic impact within that state. Namely, we examine how this level of response affected each state’s unemployment rate, gross domestic product growth, and …

Building A Better Future: Restoration, Resilience, And Sustainability, Biagio Pilato, Igor Tomic

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

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Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Editors

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Cover

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

No abstract provided.

Uncovering A Natural History Mystery At The University Of Akron, Gary M. Holliday, Lara Roketenetz

Proceedings from the Document Academy

Students were engaged in a combination of detective work, biology, archives, art, and education/outreach to prepare a collection of taxidermied birds donated to the University of Akron by the Rhodes family in the early 1900s for public access and exhibition. Students had the opportunity to learn from leading experts regarding the historical significance of biological collections, proper preservation protocols, digitizing and archival practices, and the urgency of science education and communication for a public audience. Many campus and community partners were involved, including experts from local museums and nature centers.

Evaluating The Utah Agriculture In The Classroom Preservice Teacher Seminar, Amelia J. Miller, Zak A. Konakis, Emily Yoshikawa-Ruesch, Debra M. Spielmaker, Denise Stewardson

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah Agriculture in the Classroom hosts preservice teacher seminars in partnership with five universities across the state. From 2017-2021, approximately 600 college students participated in these seminars. The preservice seminars provided agriculture-themed lessons aligned to state educational standards for future teachers to use as they build resources for their classrooms.

Demonstration Farm Provides Educational Opportunity For Ipm, Nick Volesky, Mair Murray

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The mission of USU Extension’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is to increase the use of sustainable pest management practices within urban and rural landscapes to provide economic, human, and environmental health in Utah. In the spring of 2022, the IPM program established a vegetable farm to test and demonstrate IPM practices. The farm served as an experiential learning classroom for almost 50 farmers and home gardeners.

Traditional And Virtual Hypertension Self-Management Health Education Program Delivered Through Cooperative Extension, Michelle Parisi, Ellie Lane, Cheryl J. Dye, Rhonda Matthews, Danielle Mcfall, Ethan Bain, Windsor W. Sherrill

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Fewer than 25% of individuals in the United States with hypertension have controlled blood pressure (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Hypertension Management Program (HMP) adopted the Health Coaches for Hypertension Control^© (HCHC^©) curriculum and adapted it for delivery by Extension agents. Eight lessons with intermittent health coaching calls were delivered. Pre/post-participation surveys determined changes in knowledge and self-reported weight, systolic (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The pandemic forced a shift in methodology from in-person to virtual delivery, and results were compared. In both traditional and virtual programs, significant differences were found in weight, knowledge …

Full Issue, Volume 10, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Changes In Obstacles To Learning During The Covid-19 Pandemic For University Students And Recommended Solutions, Becky Williams, Sunshine L. Brosi

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to student learning from K–12 to universities and continues to manifest negative effects on students. To better understand the challenges our students face and how those obstacles have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we surveyed our undergraduate ecology students who ranked obstacles to learning they experience in technology, learning environment, and economic security. The majority of respondents report conditions have worsened since the onset of the pandemic. Surveys identified the largest challenges on average were being unfamiliar with technology, using a smartphone or tablet for …

Full Issue, Winthrop Mcnair Research Bulletin

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin Volume 5, Full Issue

The Relationship Between Nature Connectedness And Physical Activity Patterns In A Sample Of Collegiate Students, Faculty, And Staff, Destinee Waddy

The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin

PURPOSE: A strong relationship exists between physical activity (PA) and nature connectedness (NC); the most physically active individuals may also be the most nature connected. Designing PA programs and modifying college campuses through the lens of biophilia can provide a more logical, evidence-based approach to improve overall health and wellness. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between physical activity and nature connectedness in a sample of collegiate faculty and students. METHODS: Participants completed two previously validated surveys: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Connectedness to Nature Survey. Demographic data (age, race, campus affiliation) were also …

Wellness Review 2022, Part 1, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson, Jacob Shreffler

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article represents the first of a two-part assessment of 2022 literature addressing wellness in healthcare professionals published from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.

Methods: Three editors conducted a similar keyword search in Pubmed, also adding manually curated articles. Focusing chiefly on clinical trials and other prospective research, we settled on a final 25 significant papers focusing on wellness in medical professionals to include in this review.

Literature Review: Recent literature into HCW wellness continues to describe burnout factors and COVID-19 impact, but includes more resilience-targeting interventions and systematic reviews of trials seeking bolstering of well-being. Subsections …

Exploring The Barriers And Facilitators To Making Healthy Physical Activity Lifestyle Choices Among Uk Bame Adults During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study Protocol, Johnson Mbabazi, Fiona Macgregor, Mona Salman, Jeff Breckon, Edward Kunonga, Barry Tolchard, Lawrence Achilles Nnyanzi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Past research has identified that individuals from BAME communities face health inequalities and report poorer outcomes from numerous health interventions. This study will explore some of the reasons with a focus on the perceptions towards physical activity in the lifestyle prevention of diseases. It will also seek to elicit a range of facilitators and barriers towards improving physical activity lifestyle choices amongst UK BAME adults, including but not limited to those in the individual, structural, environmental and social domains. Furthermore, it will consider the role of ethnicity and culture in the forming of physical activity lifestyle choices. This study was …

Filling The Third Circle With Interdisciplinary Lesson Planning: A Case Study Of Pre-Service Teachers, Garrett Steede, Rebecca D. Swenson, Troy D. Mckay

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The three-circle model of agricultural education focuses on the importance of in-class instruction, supervised agricultural experiences, and FFA involvement. The agricultural communications career pathway is available to students through agricultural communications supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) programs and career development events within FFA. However, specific curriculum that teaches agricultural communications in the classroom is not readily available. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the interdisciplinary lesson planning and integration process of pre-service teachers with focus on opportunities and limitations to teaching communication in the agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) curriculum. In this case study, four pre-service …

Cooperative Extension’S Capacity To Address Food Insecurity By Supporting Food Recovery Organizations, H. Lester Schonberger, Lily L. Yang, Melissa Chase, Tiffany Drape, Sarah Misyak, Renee Boyer

The Journal of Extension

Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) educators are uniquely positioned to support the food recovery organizations (FROs) which address hunger-related needs resulting from food insecurity. Based on an online survey to measure how VCE educators have engaged with FROs and their experiences, respondents who previously supported FROs did so across multiple programming areas, and those who had not indicated an interest while also experiencing barriers. Respondents also reported the need for context- and audience-specific resources particular to the spectrum of food recovery. Addressing barriers and resource needs through a transdisciplinary eXtension Food Recovery Community of Practice may support educators in doing this …

Webinars As A Tool For Increasing Awareness Of Diabetes Prevention And Management Programs, Cindy Jenkins, Carrie Durward, April Litchford, Catherine Hansen, Annette Prall, Caitlyn Jasumback

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Stakeholders sought to reduce the burden of preventable diabetes among adults in Utah via a “Food as Medicine” webinar series. The “Food as Medicine” webinar series sought to increase awareness of and enrollment in public diabetes programs. Evaluation results from the webinar series indicated an increase in awareness of diabetes programs and nutrition information needed to improve personal diabetes management.

Proximate And Ultimate Perspectives On Romantic Love

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Romantic love is a phenomenon of immense interest to the general public as well as to scholars in several disciplines. It is known to be present in almost all human societies and has been studied from a number of perspectives. In this integrative review, we bring together what is known about romantic love using Tinbergen’s “four questions” framework originating from evolutionary biology. Under the first question, related to mechanisms, we show that it is caused by social, psychological mate choice, genetic, neural, and endocrine mechanisms. The mechanisms regulating psychopathology, cognitive biases, and animal models provide further insights into the mechanisms …