Liberal Studies Commons^™

"Hear Us, See Us": Constructing Citizenship In The Margins, Tricia M. Hagen Gray

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

The meatpacking industry has drawn an increasing number of immigrants to the Midwestern community of Washington River from Mexico and Central America, making it a New Latino Diaspora (NLD) receiving community. Demographic change amidst the sociopolitical landscape of neoliberalism, declining civic engagement, and polarized partisan politics has forced interaction between longstanding residents and newcomers who are socially, culturally, and linguistically different. Historically marginalized groups have sought to claim rights—especially since Donald Trump’s election in 2016—resulting in a deeper fissure of the social landscape.

Washington River High School provided a context in which to explore questions about how students construct citizen …

Design Portfolio: Innovation Team Uncharted, Angelina Bartolotta, Michael Everix, Chance Colter, Sophia Hall, Kimberly Berry, Kiernan Pitts, Whitney Veldheer

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

Thank you for your interest in our team, Team Uncharted, and our work with the Grand Valley State University Frederik Meijer Honors College. At the time of undertaking the task of making the Honors College more “distinctive and distinguished,” we also bore in mind the greater task of creating a better experience and life for all stakeholders. Our ultimate hope is that these efforts radiate through the process and final innovation proposal.

The team working on this project consisted of 7 members: Angelina Bartolotta, Michael Everix, Chance Colter, Sophia Hall, Kimberly Berry, Kiernan Pitts, and Whitney Veldheer. Each member took …

Team Psi: Making The Frederik Meijer Honors College Experience More Distinctive, Selena Brown, Kendra Smith, Sara Harman, Michael Guscar, Josh Schneider, Cassondra Anderson

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

We are grateful for your interest in our proposed solution to increase the distinction of the Frederik Meijer Honors College. This journey spanned four months, and included countless hours of research, interviews, ideating, and prototyping. Our portfolio will walk you through this process, to help you understand our insights, and how we used Design Thinking to create our final innovation.

We would also like to express our gratitude for the teaching and guidance of professor Linda Chamberlain of the Frederik Meijer Honors College, and all the ways in which she helped us navigate the Design Thinking process. Without her, this …

Gvsu Honors College: A More Distinctive Experience, Alexis Ellis, Darius Youngblood, Lynn Doherty, Marissa Kahnt, Pierce Henderson,, Taylor Kooy

Liberal Studies Undergraduate Research

In the later summer of 2017, our team was assembled from six individuals in the HNR 313 Design Thinking class at Grand Valley State University. In time, we would learn each other’s names, personalities, assign roles for the task ahead, and come to share life experiences. Alexis Ellis became our team writing lead, Darius Youngblood became the team leader, Lynn Doherty volunteered to be the scribe and recorder, Marisa Kahnt became a co-reporter and manager of human resources, Pierce Henderson became co-reporter and researcher, and Taylor Kooy became co-presenter and task manager.

With our team finalized, we were able to …

Integrating Ethnic Studies In Social Studies Curriculum, Alyssa Denise Hernández

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Traditional social studies curriculum in the K-12 system focuses on United States history through a Eurocentric lens. The issue with focusing on a black-and-white version of history impacts people of color from ethnic backgrounds that are not equally represented in the curriculum. The research conducted for this project specifically focuses on the impact of this subject matter on individuals in a predominantly Latino community. Through surveys and interviews, the researcher presents feedback on the experiences of these individuals and provides possible solutions on how schools can improve social studies curriculum at the high school level to be more culturally relevant …

Slipping Through The Cracks: A Look Into Special Education Referrals, Courtney Musselman

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Special Education is offered in many schools today and more and more students are being referred to this type of education. For this capstone project three local special education teachers were interviewed about the referral process and what could be done to improve it. This is an important issue because many students are slipping through the cracks when it comes to be identified and others are being overly identified. The referral process is important because it provides students with an equal opportunity for education. Findings from the interviews and information from a relevant literature review were used to develop an …

Blooming Relationships: Increasing Communication Between Parents And Teachers, Jasmine Negrete

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus of this Capstone project is on strengthening the communication between parents and teachers by providing an alternative method of communication that will suit both parties. Both parties have expectations for one another that need to be communicated in order to benefit the students. The primary stakeholder perspectives surveyed were the parents of the children and the teachers and administrators. Three action options emerged from an analysis of the data and were explored as ways to address the issue presented. Parents were provided with access to an application called Bloomz, which is accessible by smartphones, tablets and computers.

Let's Talk: Increasing Communication With Dual- Immersion Parents, Carmina Tirado

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In 2016, California passed Proposition 58, which repealed Proposition 227. The latter proposition, passed in 1998, prohibited the use of non- English instruction in public schools across California. Since then, bilingual education programs such as dual- immersion, or two-way immersion programs have seen a rise in enrollment. Due to its novelty, parental involvement is crucial for the success of the program. This Capstone project focuses on understanding the obstacles that parents of second language learner students, specifically those in dual-immersion programs face when it comes to their involvement. Several factors such as language barriers, parent/teacher misunderstanding, and time restraints, can …

Let’S Talk: Increasing Communication In The Dual-Immersion Setting, Iliana Izquierdo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In 2016, California passed Proposition 58, which repealed Proposition 227. The latter proposition, passed in 1998, prohibited the use of non- English instruction in public schools across California. Since then, bilingual education programs such as dual- immersion, or two-way immersion programs have seen a rise in enrollment. Due to its novelty, parental involvement is crucial for the success of the program. This Capstone project focuses on understanding the obstacles that parents of second language learner students, specifically those in dual-immersion programs face when it comes to their involvement. Several factors such as language barriers, parent/teacher misunderstanding, and time restraints, can …

Not So “Free”: Increasing Elementary Children’S Free Time, Annie Santos

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Free play has been drastically decreasing recently and this is an issue for young children. Factors contributing to this decline include external influences, such as school, parents, and activities. This issue is important for children’s lives, impacting their health and developmental skills. This project works toward providing more opportunities for children to experience free play throughout their everyday lives. The primary stakeholder perspectives obtained were the parents of children who are directly affected by this issue. Based on an analysis of the data and relevant research literature, an action was untaken to respond to the lack of free play in …

What Makes That Autistic Student Tick? Strategies For Classroom Behaviors, Amanda Puleo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Inclusion of autistic students in mainstream classrooms may make it difficult for teachers to identify and proactively address disruptive behaviors. That is, mainstream teachers may not know how to respond to these specific behaviors and their standard classroom management techniques may not work with autistic students. It will take commitment and hard work to identify strategies to regulate the disruptive behaviors of students with autism. To address this issue, the perspectives of directors and teachers who specialize in autism, as well as mainstream public or private school teachers were obtained through interviews. Three options for action emerged from an analysis …

"Already Writers": A Case Study In Assessment And Visual Rhetoric Connections In Digital Multimodal Composition, Fawn Elise Canady

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

English language arts must respond to shifts in literacy practices that reflect changes in ‘college and career ready’ that are more than technologically mediated, but also emphasize creative and social skills. The case study in this dissertation is a small part of a larger, ongoing formative experiment in digital multimodal composition (DMC). A formative experiment is a methodological approach that favors a collaborative, iterative research process that is centered on an instructional goal in authentic classroom settings (Reinking & Bradley, 2008). The intention of the larger research study was to support students’ learning through DMC. This dissertation explored one of …

The Grizzly, November 30, 2017, Valerie Osborne, Courtney A. Duchene, Thomas Bantley, Sarah Hojsak, Johnny Myers, Emily Jolly, Sophia Dibattista, Kevin Leon, Chloe Sheraden, David Mendelsohn

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Ursinus Lights Up the Night • UC Investment Club Stocks Up on Success • Student Perspective: Philly X Moves UC Students to a Big City with Big Opportunities • Hallelujah: Handel's Messiah Returns to Ursinus • Ursinus Students in the Theater • Great Pie Conquest of 2017 • Opinions: Temporary Protection Status Needs as Much Support as DACA; Ursinus Must Support the Humanities Through its Facilities • UC Wrestling Starts Hot • Promising Tip-off for Women's Hoops

The Long-Term Impact Of First-Year Seminars, Qin Zhang, Suhua Dong

Institutional Research Staff Publications

This study examined the net effects of participating in a residential first-year seminar (FYS) program by comparing the outcomes of participants with those of non-participants at the point of graduation, while controlling for background and pre-college variables. Outcome variables focused on student academic performance and self-reported gains as a result of their undergraduate education; they included: cumulative GPA; intellectual development; development of problem solving; development of social and civic engagement; institutional preparation for career path, graduate school, and interpersonal relationships and family living/personal development; and participation in faculty-mentored research. The study was based on a sample of 853 graduating seniors …

The Grizzly, November 16, 2017, Valerie Osborne, Johnny Myers, Sophia Dibattista, Ryan T. Summers, Skyler L. Gailing, Paige Szmodis, Michael C. Esposito, Julian Spain, David Mendelsohn

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Democrats Sweep Local Elections • Sustainability Office Recognized by the "Princeton Review" • Bear2Bear Fund Aids Students with Emergency Expenses • UCDC Fall Show, "Once Removed," Opens This Thursday • Pride Shines at Ursinus • Build Character, Write Now • Opinions: Student Leaders Must be Better Allies Through Their Actions; Paradise Papers Reveal Unethical Tax Avoidance by Tech Companies • UCXC Finishes Strong • Men's Basketball Picked Fourth in Preseason Poll

Volume Cxxxv, Number 8, November 10, 2017, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

The Grizzly, November 9, 2017, Valerie Osborne, Kevin Leon, Courtney A. Duchene, Johnny Myers, Emily Jolly, Sophia Dibattista, Thomas Bantley, Julian Spain, David Mendelsohn

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Department of Education Rolls Back Piece of Title IX • Joe DeSimone '86 Receives Heinz Award • New Education Major Created • Nadler Awarded Tow Fellowship • Dr. Kerr Appears on "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" • History of a Historian • Opinions: Male Gun Violence Must End with Restrictive Gun Legislation; JFK's Legacy Should be More Than Assassination Conspiracies • Senior Athletes Share Memories as Fall Sports Seasons Wind to a Close • Football Drops Three of Last Four Games

Volume Cxxxv, Number 7, November 3, 2017, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

The Grizzly, November 2, 2017, Valerie Osborne, Courtney A. Duchene, Kevin Leon, Johnny Myers, Christopher Barthold, Alyssa Myers, Alexa Beacham, Jennifer Fleeger, Sophia Dibattista, David Mendelsohn

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

Collegeville Election: Mayoral Candidate Targeted by Hate Flyer • Peace and Freedom Now! Ursinus Brings "Hair" to the Mainstage • AAAS Hosts Author and Journalist Lori Tharps • From Star Gazing to Volunteering, Watson Nominees Dream Big • Families Take Over Ursinus • "Food Evolution" Sparks Debate • Opinions: Weinstein Sexual Assault Scandal is a Call to Action; CSCG Speaker Series Response Reveals Gendered Assumptions • Palladino Accepted to 2018 Division III Immersion Program • Women's Swimming Defeats Dickinson

The Educational Experiences Of Biracial Students As Seen Through The Eyes Of Their Parents, Sandra Washington

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges biracial children and their parents face as they navigate through the U.S. K–12 school system while developing a firm sense of self and racial identity. This issue is important because of the growing number of biracial children in the U.S. today. “Among American children, the multiracial population has increased almost 50 percent, to 4.2 million, since 2000, making it the fastest growing youth group in the country” (Saulny, 2011, p. A3). Three couples, one single father, and one mother were interviewed about their experiences …