Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Step By Step Shoreline Attribute Analysis For Selected Waterbodies In The Gulf Of Mexico To Promote The Use Of Living Shorelines, Christoper Boyd, Xutong Niu, Taylor R. Horn

The Journal of Extension

Living Shorelines are being promoted by coastal extension professionals as a more resilient nature-based solution to control shoreline erosion. The Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences Living Shorelines Suitability Model was run in selected waterbodies within the Gulf of Mexico.

The locations of the selected water bodies, coastal data sets used, and shoreline protection recommendations generated by the Model are presented. A step-by-step statistical analysis conducted through ArcGIS Pro from these selected coastal shorelines will illustrate how extension professionals with novice GIS experience can use the model output to promote living shorelines to coastal property owners, city managers, and developers.

Mathematical Modeling, Analysis, And Simulation Of Patient Addiction Journey, Adan Baca, Diego Gonzalez, Alonso G. Ogueda, Holly C. Matto, Padmanabhan Seshaiyer

CODEE Journal

This paper aims to develop a mathematical model to study the dynamics of addiction as individuals go through their detox journey. The motivation for this work is three fold. First, there has been a significant increase in drug overdose and drug addiction following the COVID-19 pandemic, and addiction may be interpreted as a infectious disease. Secondly, the dynamics of infectious disease could be modeled via compartmental models described by differential equations and one can therefore leverage the existing analytical and numerical methods to model addiction as a disease. Finally, the work helps to inform how mathematical models governed by differential …

7th International Conference On Creative Mathematical Sciences Communication (Cmsc`24), Frances A. Rosamond

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The 7th International Creative Mathematical Sciences Communication (CMSC) conference is scheduled for October 2024 in Trier, Germany. Initiated in Darwin, Australia in 2013, CMSC aims to explore novel methods of imparting computational thinking to diverse audiences including non-specialists, modern citizens, and children. Participants from around the world and from various and interdisciplinary disciplines such as science, education, dance, drama, and visual arts convene to exchange ideas, present experimental approaches, and collaborate on engaging children in the exploration of ongoing, unresolved research challenges.

The Value Of Adding Nothing: A Call For Reform-Oriented Polynomial Division, Jonathan Clark, Jeneva Clark

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The call to implement reform practices in schools reflects the historical turn away from the behaviorist theory of learning in education. Yet the praxis of this turn remains a significant challenge, particularly within mathematics classrooms where procedural memorization is emphasized. In this article, we show one means of how to advance our pursuit of meaningful mathematics into polynomial division. Building on the literature for reform-based division methods, an alternative to the long division algorithm will be explored that relies solely on adding zero and fundamental algebraic principles.

Sociomathematical Norms And Automated Proof Checking In Mathematical Education: Reflections And Experiences, Merlin Carl

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

According to a widely held view, mathematical proofs are essentially (indications of) formal derivations, and thus in principle mechanically checkable (this view is defended, for example, by Azzouni [3]). This should in particular hold for the kind of simple proof exercises typically given to students of mathematics learning to write proofs. If that is so, then automated proof checking should be an attractive option for math education at the undergraduate level. An opposing view would be that mathematical proofs are social objects and that what constitutes a mathematical proof can thus not be separated from the social context in which …

We Think, We Smell, We Remember: The Effect Of Smell On Memory For Chemistry Lab Learning, Michael A. Marino, Francine Wisnewski, Catherine Reilly, Andre Alexis

Faculty Presentations: BCES

The traditional five senses are the primary receptors of external stimuli for the brain. While tactile learning and visual observations are integral to the chemistry laboratory, olfaction is a sense that should be considered part of an educator's repertoire. Previous studies have discovered that our sense of smell plays a significant role in triggering memories. Moreover, specific scents like vanillin can prompt anamneses to recall previous experiences. A sample of 61 college students was employed for a three-week pretest-posttest control group experimental design. In the first week, participants conducted a chemical reaction to synthesize isoamyl acetate, the familiar and nontoxic …

Numerical Issues For A Non-Autonomous Logistic Model, Marina Mancuso, Kaitlyn M. Martinez, Carrie Manore, Fabio Milner

CODEE Journal

The user-friendly aspects of standardized, built-in numerical solvers in
computational software aid in the simulations of many problems solved using
differential equations. The tendency to trust output from built-in numerical
solvers may stem from their ease-of-use or the user’s unfamiliarity with the
inner workings of the numerical methods. Here, we show a case where the
most frequently used and trusted built-in numerical methods in Python’s
SciPy library produce incorrect, inconsistent, and even unstable approxima-
tions for a the non-autonomous logistic equation, which is used to model
biological phenomena across a variety of disciplines. Some of the most com-
monly used …

Student Perceptions: How Stem Students Value Belonging Interventions, Elizabeth Runkel Baez

University Honors Theses

With the prioritization of increasing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates in the United States, researchers have become increasingly interested in how to promote STEM students' sense of belonging. Sense of belonging is considered a marker of persistence in STEM. Facilitated 'belonging interventions' are one way to strengthen a sense of belonging amongst STEM students. How students respond to, value, and understand these belonging interventions is relatively understudied. In this study, focus groups were conducted with STEM students from a single university to investigate how they value an in-class belonging activity. Qualitative thematic coding of focus group responses revealed …

Community Science As Adult Learning: Using Theory To Understand Volunteers’ Experiences, Lauren Vilen, Jill Zarestky

Adult Education Research Conference

This study explores volunteer learning in an online community science program. Findings indicate alignment with self-directed and experiential learning theory, with implications for learner feedback and engagement.

A Microgenetic Learning Analysis Of Contextuality In Reasoning About Exponential Modeling, Elahe Allahyari

Dissertations

This work explores the complex cognitive processes students engage in when addressing contextual tasks requiring linear and exponential models. Grounded within Piagetian constructivism and the Knowledge in Pieces (KiP) epistemological perspective (diSessa, 1993, 2018), this empirical study in a clinical setting develops a Microgenetic Learning Analysis (MLA) of the reasoning of 14 students from an Algebra II course. It reveals the critical role of cognitive disequilibrium as an essential cognitive state for conceptual development and the process of reorganizing knowledge systems. The study uncovers the fluctuations in students’ reasoning patterns and the significant impact on students’ reasoning patterns of task-specific …

Linear Ode Systems Having A Fundamental Matrix Of The Form F(Mt), Kevin L. Shirley, Vicky W. Klima

CODEE Journal

We interweave scaffolded problem statements with exposition and examples to support the reader as they explore specific linear systems of differential equations with variable coefficients, $\vec{x}'(t)=A(t)\vec{x}(t)$ and initial value $\vec{x}(0)$. We begin with a constant $n\times n$ matrix $M$ and a real or complex-valued function $f$, analytic at the eigenvalues of $M$ with $f(0) = 1$, and construct a linear system of differential equations with solutions $x(t)=f(Mt)\vec{x}(0)$, where $t$ is a parameter in some interval including zero. In general, the solutions to the resulting non-autonomous system are more difficult to analyze than solutions to the constant coefficient case. However, some …

Engaging Students In Partial Differential Equations Through Modeling Fourier's Law Of Conduction, Justin G. Trulen, Kayla Keller, John Sinclair, Lauren Meagher

CODEE Journal

In an effort to make active learning exercises in a partial differential equations course, we present a student activity modeling Fourier's law of conduction under the framework of the heat equation. An overview of the heat equation, including several avenues of study, is provided. Then we give an intuitive way of constructing the heat equation from a couple of fundamental properties of physics including Fourier's law of conduction. We outline an experiment that can be run to collect their own data to model Fourier's law of conduction as well as provide data we collected. We conclude with a student activity …

Differential Equations For Modeling Pathways Leading To Diabetes Onset, Viktoria Savatorova, Aleksei Talonov

CODEE Journal

This paper presents a mathematical model that explains potential pathways leading to diabetes onset. By utilizing a system of nonlinear differential equations to describe the dynamics of the glucose regulatory system, the model can serve as a pedagogical tool for teaching and learning differential equations, dynamical systems, mathematical modeling, and introduction to biomathematics. Within this framework, students can analyze equilibrium solutions, investigate stability, assess parameter sensitivity, and explore the potential for bifurcations. Theoretical analysis is complemented by illustrative numerical examples. Instructors have the flexibility to adapt and incorporate suggested activities according to their teaching preferences and objectives.

A Comparison Of Assessment Experiences Between Standards-Based Practices And Traditional Practices Within Secondary Mathematics Classrooms, Emily Mayes

Honors Theses

The purpose of this research was to compare assessment experiences and find ways to improve those experiences for students in two mathematics classrooms: one classroom that employs Standards-Based Grading and one classroom that uses traditional grading practices. The research examines students’ perceptions regarding their level of preparation, their anxiety levels surrounding assessment, the validity of assessments, and using assessments and grading practices to give accurate indications of student progress in their learning, given the students’ perceptions. Students in both settings voluntarily and anonymously participated in completing pre- and post-assessment free-response surveys which asked questions about students’ assessment experiences. This research …

Using Student Interests To Explore Inclusion In Undergraduate Chemistry, Sonja Hoversten

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

For students who are not chemistry majors, but who are on a career track requiring four chemistry courses, taking the final reactivity chemistry course (CHEM 251) for pre-health students can be daunting. For this reason, this research is focused on the CHEM 251 course at The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSBSJU) which is one of the four required chemistry courses for pre-medicine and some pre-physician assistant students, and all chemistry and biochemistry majors. Student perception of inclusion in the course increased through the implementation of group assignments including prompts for individual application of the material. The …

Conceptual Understanding Of Linear Relationships Across Various Mathematics Courses, Melissa Manley

Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional study investigated the conceptual understanding of linear relationships for 195 students enrolled in a single school in a large, urban district across five mathematics courses: Grade 7 Math (n = 24), Grade 8 Math (n = 52), Geometry (n = 43), Algebra 1 (n = 31), and Algebra 2 (n = 45). The following questions guided this study: (1) What differences exist in students’ conceptual understanding of linear relationships across mathematics courses? (2) What are common strengths and weaknesses in students’ conceptual understanding of linear relationships?

An assessment was created to assess three constructs of conceptual understanding of …

A Compilation, Analysis, And Categorization Of 403 Atmospheric And Climate Science Misconceptions, Haeli Leighty

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) has listed the inaccessibility of research related to misconceptions in atmospheric and climate science as a Geoscience Education Research Grand Challenge (Cervato et al. 2018). This project was a direct response to this call for research and consisted of three distinct steps: 1) data gathering, which included reviewing the literature for relevant misconception data, 2) a qualitative analysis, which included compiling, organizing, and categorizing the data collected, and 3) a quantitative analysis, which included determining the prevalence of each misconception across topic categories, demographic categories, and over time. A total of 403 misconceptions …

Key Benefits Of Small Group Instruction For Diverse Learners, Lydia Mcevoy

Master's Theses

Utilizing a mixed method approach this research study investigated the effects of small group instruction on the learning of diverse learners. Informed by a preliminary literature review that supports the use of small-group instruction, the researcher conducted a small-scale action research project to focus on three diverse learners in a 1st-grade classroom over four weeks. One of the findings of this project shows that small group instruction helps promote social and emotional skills as students feel more comfortable interacting with peers in a small group rather than in a whole group. Another finding indicates that students feel more encouraged by …

An Investigation Into Problem Solving In The Calculus Iii Classroom, Joseph Godinez

Honors College

The importance of tertiary education has grown to new heights, especially in the United States. A critical component of successful modern professionals remains the ability to employ problem-solving strategies and techniques. This study seeks to investigate initial problem-solving strategies employed by post-secondary students enrolled in Calculus II when presented with problems common to integral calculus. In- person pair-wise interviews were conducted asking six participants to sort integrals into categories based on the technique they would use to solve it. Participant responses were analyzed using a concept image composed of general and topic-specific symbolic forms, related conceptual images and concept definitions, …

Using The History Of Statistics To Teach Introductory Statistics, Melissa Hansen

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

While often taught in high school and required as part of a college degree, statistics classes are sometimes viewed by students as an obstacle rather than a support for their overall goals. One way to increase student engagement in a statistics course is to use the history of statistics. Within the literature review, the advantages to using the history of statistics are discussed as well as the more extensive research on using the history of mathematics in mathematics courses. Included are instructional strategies for using the context around the development of mathematical ideas in math classrooms which can be extended …

How To Explain Allen-Manandhar’S Method To Beginner Mathematicians : A Convergence Analysis Of A Hybrid Method For Variable-Coefficient Boundary Value Problems, Rebecca Scariano

Honors Theses

In this project, analogies are employed to make complex math concepts approachable to beginners who may only have a basic understanding of calculus and linear algebra. Serving as the focal point of this project, Allen-Manandhar’s method solves an equation, known as an ordinary differential equation (ODE). The mentioned equation with its coefficients is comparable to a pie recipe with ingredients. With the outcome to a recipe seen as its solution, the solution to our pie recipe is a perfectly baked pie, as in without error. The chosen method for baking a pie then classifies as its baking approach that when …

Predictors Of Student Success In College-Level General Chemistry, Elijah J. Engler, Clarice Ak Kelleher

Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal

Success in college-level general chemistry is important because it is a required course for many different STEM majors and student success in early STEM classes correlates with retention of students in STEM. Identifying factors associated with success and failure can give educators a better understanding of the warning signs to look out for in struggling students. This paper compares factors and behaviors with final grades in general chemistry courses at Binghamton University, including adjectives selected from a word bank (“valued,” “supported,” etc.), resources used, and opinion on group work as it relates to learning. Correlations were found between student adjective …

Uni Introduction To High School Openscied Workshop [Flier] April 13, 2024, University Of Northern Iowa Science Education Program.

Science Education Update Conference Documents

The flier for the Introduction to High School OpenSciEd Workshop held on April 13, 2024 at the University of Northern Iowa.

Uni Science Education Update Conference [Program] April 12, 2024, University Of Northern Iowa Science Education Program.

Science Education Update Conference Documents

he program for the Science Education Update Conference held on April 12, 2024 at the University of Northern Iowa.

Artificial Intelligence: Integration In Higher-Level Accounting Teaching And Learning Practices, Sarah Rahim

Honours Bachelor of Business Administration

This literature review examines the issues related to the integration of artificial intelligence in accounting education within the Ontario college context. A review of current scholarly literature reveals important benefits including improved teaching and learning practices. However, the research also cautions about some of the disadvantages including bias and academic integrity breaches. Stakeholder perceptions to artificial intelligence are also explored, including those of educators, students, employers, governments, advocacy groups, and developers. The literature revealed that artificial intelligence can be effectively integrated into classrooms and teaching/learning practices via course design, grading, intelligent tutoring, and planning. However, it also cautioned about the …

Uni Science Education Update Conference, Save The Date Flier, Spring 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Science Education Program.

Science Education Update Conference Documents

Announcement for the 2024 Science Education Update Conference.

Performance Outcomes In Introductory Statistics: R Vs. Spss Usage At A Community College, Venessa Singhroy Ph.D., Bianca Sosnovski

Publications and Research

This dataset corresponds to a study investigating the performance outcomes of students enrolled in two sections of an introductory statistics course at a community college in New York. The study, titled "Examining Differences in Performance Outcomes between Statistics Classes using High-coding vs. Low-coding Statistical Software Packages," explores the impact of utilizing different statistical software packages (R and SPSS) on student performance and motivation. The dataset comprises assessments administered to participants, including the Mathematics Motivation Questionnaire, Reading Comprehension Assessment, Algebra Assessment, Statistics Assessment, and Coding Assessment. Participants were divided into two sections: one utilizing R and the other utilizing SPSS for …

An Analysis And Ontology Of Teaching Methods In Cybersecurity Education, Sarah Buckley

LSU Master's Theses

The growing cybersecurity workforce gap underscores the urgent need to address deficiencies in cybersecurity education: the current education system is not producing competent cybersecurity professionals, and current efforts are not informing the non-technical general public of basic cybersecurity practices. We argue that this gap is compounded by a fundamental disconnect between cybersecurity education literature and established education theory. Our research addresses this issue by examining the alignment of cybersecurity education literature concerning educational methods and tools with education literature.

In our research, we endeavor to bridge this gap by critically analyzing the alignment of cybersecurity education literature with education theory. …

Publications And Other Works By R. F. Diffendal, Jr., Robert F. Diffendal Jr.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

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Updated March 2024

Cognitive Load Scale In Learning Formal Definition Of Limit: A Rasch Model Approach, Rina Oktaviyanthi, Ria Noviana Agus, Mark Lester B. Garcia, Kornkanok Lertdechapat

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Constructing proofs for the limit using the formal definition induces a high cognitive load. Common assessment tools, like cognitive load scales, lack specificity for the concept of limits. This research aims to validate an instrument tailored to assess cognitive load in students focused on the formal definition of limits, addressing the need for diverse strategies in education. The research employs a quantitative survey design with a Rasch model approach, utilizing a data collection instrument in the form of a questionnaire. Subsequently, the data are analyzed by focusing on three aspects: (1) item fit to the Rasch model, (2) unidimensionality, and …