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The Abcdefgs Of Entomology, Maria T. Gutierrez

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

As a parent of three kids, I love finding ways to spark their curiosity and love for learning, so combining my interest in entomology and my experience as a parent, I came up with a fun yet informative book about insects. I selected the most common insects kids might encounter daily at home, school, or while playing at the park: ants, butterflies, cockroaches, dragonflies, earwigs, flies, and grasshoppers.

I aimed to develop an activity book that anyone could use, whether they are a teacher or a parent without a scientific background. By focusing on these seven specific insects, I wanted …

"Entomology In Citizen Science" Course Materials, Kristen A. Lewis

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

"Entomology in Citizen Science" introduces students to entomology in literature, in science articles and studies, and in inquiry-based field experiences. Students engage in citizen science by surveying arthropods in the local environment and posting pictures on iNaturalist. Arthropod surveys conducted in this course will serve as baseline biodiversity measures and will be continued and added to by future classes. Written, visual, and mathematic expression are taught in this course, and course objectives align with the Benchmarks for Science Literacy Project 2061 (American Association for the Advancement of Science; 1993).

Includes numerous supplemental materials.

High School Teachers’ Experiences And Perceptions Facilitating Student Discourse And Collaborative Structures For English Language Learners In Biology, Chrissy Ann Brouwer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem that was addressed in this study was that the academic needs of English Language Learners (ELLs) were not being met in biology classes in high schools in the local district because teachers were not consistently facilitating instruction using the required strategies of student discourse and collaborative structures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers’ successes, challenges, and need for supports when using the required strategies with their ELLs. Knowles’ theory of andragogy and Shulman’s theory of pedagogical content knowledge guided this study examining how the adults’ learning of the required strategies impacted their ability to …

Adult Learning And Motivation Of Students Previously Involved In The U.S. Criminal Justice System, Saudia Krystal Mohammed

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Motivation is an important factor in the overall success, achievement potential, and capabilities of students, especially adult learners. For individuals who are currently in the criminal justice system, motivator is a key factor in degree obtainment, research shows. However, there is limited research on adult learners who have previously been involved in the U.S. criminal justice system and the motivational factors that led to their academic reengagement. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of those motivational factors. The theoretical framework that underpinned this study was the transformative learning theory, which centers on how learners make …

Veteran K–5 Teachers’ Perceptions Of Implementing Blended Learning As An Innovation For English Language Art Instruction, Faith Lajoy Roberts-Graham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The phenomenon of interest in this study was veteran K–5 English language arts (ELA) teachers’ perceptions of blended learning as an educational innovation setting and how they perceived the implementation of blended learning into their instructional routine. Blended learning is normally used in higher-level education but is now also used in the K–5 setting. Blended learning requires students to learn in a brick-and-mortar class setting and through online instruction using technology. Existing research on blended learning primarily focuses on the technological aspects and not veteran K–5 ELA teachers’ implementation of blended learning in public elementary schools. The purpose of this …

Training Strategies To Improve Salesperson Confidence And Production, William B. Bronson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many sales leaders need strategies to improve the productivity and confidence of their sales personnel. Ineffective sales training programs cost organizations billions of dollars in annual revenue and profits. Grounded in adaptive leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative mini-ethnographic multiple-case study was to explore successful strategies used by sales leaders that combine and balance virtual and online resources with traditional face-to-face training methods to increase the productivity and confidence of sales personnel. Data were collected by interviewing eight salespeople and two sales managers spanning two Texas insurance companies and reviewing company documents. Data were analyzed using Yin’s five-step process …

Arkansas Teachers’ Perspectives And Experiences Implementing Stem In Kindergarten Classrooms, Aranda House

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten teachers in one large district in Arkansas are inconsistently implementing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-integrated lessons into their curriculum despite a systemic plan for increasing equitable access to high-quality STEM-focused education for all students by the state department of education. While researchers suggest that barriers for lower elementary teachers in implementing STEM include low STEM content and pedagogical efficacy, few studies explore how kindergarten teachers implement STEM lessons with their students. Hence, the purpose of this descriptive-interpretive study was to explore Arkansas teachers’ experiences with and perspectives on implementing STEM lessons in their kindergarten classrooms within the context …

Water Analysis Of Various Issues: Local Issue: Beavers In Butler, Michael Konopinski

STEM for Success Showcase

In my 6th Grade Academic Technology Class, the students have been learning about various water issues that have taken place globally, nationally, and now locally. Students have analyzed interactive drought maps of our country, worked on inventions to help water scarcity in developing nations, and now students are currently researching and creating solutions to a local issue in our community. Currently, there is a beaver constructing a dam in our local river.

Students have researched, analyzed the area, and now are creating solutions to this unique situation. Upon completion of the research, finding the location of this issue using Google …

Participation In The Relaxing Listening Program: Postsecondary L2 Learner Responses And Effects On Listening Comprehension, Thanh Ha Vu

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Based on theories and practices developed by Pimsleur (2013), Hoge (2014), and Delong (2017), the Relaxing Listening Program (RLP) provides an innovative learning opportunity to enhance L2 learners’ vocabulary acquisition and the development of their listening and speaking skills with the aim to reduce anxiety in the learning process. This research study examines how postsecondary L2 learners in an intensive English program at an American university responded to the RLP and explores its effect on their listening comprehension and other targeted language skills. Though repetitive listening is still open to debate regarding its practice and impact on language learning, this …

Cls 2040 Great Books - Classics Core General Education Assessment, 2023-2024, College Of Liberal Arts, Wright State University

Core General Education Assessments - All

This report assesses Wright State University's course CLS 2040, Great Books - Classics, as part of the institution’s ongoing general education Core assessment plan.

Migrants, Covid-19, And Italy: A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis Of The Construction Of And Resistance To Nationalist Discourses, Alessia Barbici Wagner, Theresa Catalano, Bryan Meadows

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Migration has historically been a controversial issue around the world and one that has often been harnessed by people in power (or people hoping to gain power) for their own political agendas. In times of a global pandemic, the scapegoating of migrants has only increased, often rooted in nationalist ideologies which lead to policies and practices that harm migrants and the larger society. The present paper employs multimodal critical discourse analysis to explore how nationalist ideologies supported by right-wing populism are constructed visually and verbally during COVID-19 on Italian social media in regard to migration. We analyze Giorgia Meloni’s (leader …

From Bilingual To Biliteracy: Learning From Families, Stephanie Wessels, Guy Trainin

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

This study examined the home literacy practices of bilingual families. We were specifically interested in the literacy practices families developed to answer the challenge of biliteracy. Through the home visits and supplying high quality bilingual books, we listened, observed, and gained a deeper understanding of the children and their families which allowed us and educators reading this piece to make connections between children’s home literacy practices and literacy practices in the classroom. After discussing the use of bilingual books, the following four themes emerged from the data: families negotiating biliteracy using bilingual books, the role of Spanish, siblings and literacy …

Determining The Effectiveness Of Rosemary Essential Oil On The Shelf Life Of Ground Beef Under Different Lighting Conditions, Jordan T. Looper, Kelly R. Vierck

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

This study determined the effectiveness of rosemary extract on the shelf life of ground beef patties under different retail display conditions. Ground beef patties were produced from an 85%:15% blend (lean:fat). Patties were formed from batches of control or amended with rosemary extract. Patties were individually packaged using overwrap. Groups were assigned into one of two lighting groups (3000K and 3500K). Patties were placed in a simulated retail display for 5 d under continuous lighting and rotated once a day. Lipid oxidation and color samples were taken each day. Relating to lipid oxidation, there was no three-way interaction between display …

Exploring The Use Of Multimodal Approaches In The Teaching Of English Language Education And Literacy In Ugandan Primary Teachers’ Colleges: An Action Research In One Selected Primary Teachers’ College In Northwestern Uganda., Atungire Abetty

Master of Education

In this study, action research was conducted in one selected PTC in Northwestern Uganda to examine the use of multimodal techniques in the teaching and learning of English Language Education and Literacy in Ugandan Primary Teachers' Colleges. The study used a qualitative research methodology and an action research design to gather and analyze data. The techniques of data collection included interviews, observation, document analysis, and focus group discussion. The study consisted of 16 respondents (12 students, 1 tutor, 1 Principal, 1 Director of Studies, and 1 librarian). The data were analyzed by using the NVivo application. The results showed that …

On The Impossibilities Of Advancing Racial Justice In Higher Education Research Through Reliance On The Campus Climate Heuristic, Elvira Abrica, Deryl K. Hatch-Tocaimaza, Cecilia Rios-Aguilar

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Campus climates are often described as “hostile” for racially minoritized populations. However, growing recognition of complexities associated with intersecting and interwoven systems of social oppression compel the field of higher education to move away from overly simplistic portrayals of postsecondary environments as “welcoming/chilly” or “positive/negative.” More than this, there is a need to engage in a broader discussion of the field’s reliance on the metaphor of meteorological climate itself as a heuristic for characterizing the nature of college learning environments. The central argument presented in this theoretical article is that racial justice is impossible when operationalized through a lens of …

Effects Of Video Modeling With Voice-Over Narration Versus No Voice-Over Narration, Kennedy Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In the current study, the effects of video modeling with voice-over narration (VMW) was compared to the effects of video modeling with no voice-over narration (VMN) when learning the acquisition of a vocational skill. Four high-school students within a public school who spent most of their school day in a special education classroom participated in the study. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the VMW and VMN conditions and then a best alone condition was conducted for each participant that used the video modeling procedure that demonstrated superiority during the comparison. A modification of the inclusion of …

Odu Department Of English Newsletter (2023-2024 - Issue No. 1), Ola Swatek (Editor), Karma Johnson, Aliya Head

Department of English Newsletter

ODU English Department's 2023-2024 Annual Newsletter. The newsletter covers new courses, events, awards, students & faculty news and much more.

Dismantling Education’S “Wicked” Problems, Amanda M. Castillo

CGU Theses & Dissertations

The following papers, presented as a three-paper series format, discuss the implications of targeting three key, foundational problems within K-12 education. Designing solutions for policy or systemic problems requires more than just creativity. Since public education faces a myriad of crises, it falls under the term “wicked problem” first coined by Horst W.J. Rittel and Melvin M. Webber, to identify challenges that not only seem immune to conventional solutions but are often exacerbated by standard techniques. These papers are in no order of importance, nor are they issues educators might consider highest priority. The presented papers, however, provide suggestions for …

Ecodrama And Sustainable Theatre: A Handbook For Creating Remarkable Change, Gigi Buddie

Pomona Senior Theses

The climate crisis is not new to us, nor are the art forms that have taken shape as vital components of the many activist movements that seek to save the planet. Yet, for the first time at Pomona College, a play about environmental devastation and our hand in it finally graced the stage of this progressive institution this past year. This mini handbook is a call-to-action (of sorts), one that stems from the idea that this should not be the last ecodrama performed at Pomona College. These chapters are structured and supported by both experience and research – formulated from …

Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra, Florentin Smarandache, Ranulfo Paiva Barbosa (Sobrinho)

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

We introduce Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra, an algebraic structure consisting of neutrosophic numbers equipped with two binary operations namely addition and multiplication. The addition can be calculated sometimes with the function min and other times with the max function. The multiplication operation is the usual sum between numbers. Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra is an extension of both Tropical Algebra (also known as Min-Plus, or Min-Algebra) and Max-Plus Algebra (also known as Max-algebra). Tropical and Max-Plus algebras are algebraic structures included in semirings and their operations can be used in matrices and vectors. Pura Vida Neutrosophic Algebra is included in Neutrosophic …

New Types Of Soft Sets: Hypersoft Set, Indetermsoft Set, Indetermhypersoft Set, And Treesoft Set - An Improved Version, Florentin Smarandache

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

This is an improved paper of [10], where we recall the definitions together with practical applications of the Soft Set and its extensions to HyperSoft Set, IndetermSoft Set, IndetermHyperSoft Set, and TreeSoft Set.

Inspection Assignment Form For Product Quality Control Using Neutrosophic Logic, Maissam Jdid, Florentin Smarandache, Said Broumi

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

During the production process, production companies need to monitor the finished products and ensure their quality, which imposes on them the appointment of inspectors for auditing, and this appointment costs the company amounts that affect the general profit, so it strives to make this cost as low as possible and that the audit process is carried out with high accuracy because in case that the finished products do not conform to the basic specifications of the product, the company is required to pay a fine. In this research, we will formulate the text of the problem appropriately for such a …

Utilizing Markov Chains To Estimate Allele Progression Through Generations, Ronit Gandhi

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

All populations display patterns in allele frequencies over time. Some alleles cease to exist, while some grow to become the norm. These frequencies can shift or stay constant based on the conditions the population lives in. If in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the allele frequencies stay constant. Most populations, however, have bias from environmental factors, sexual preferences, other organisms, etc. We propose a stochastic Markov chain model to study allele progression across generations. In such a model, the allele frequencies in the next generation depend only on the frequencies in the current one.

We use this model to track a recessive allele …

Reading Utopian Pedagogies: Discovering The Practical Here And Now Of Utopian Thinking, Carter Johnke

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis offers a way of reading texts for their utopian aims, a term I use to analyze utopian themes and ideas in a text while keeping the focus on practicality. Reading a text for its utopian aims discovers what a text hopes for but always reflects on how those hopes serve the here and now of the author and the reader. The idealistic conclusions of utopian thinking, the utopian visions, only play a role in the utopian aim. This project does not promote the ultimate or extreme ends of utopian visions; instead, it analyzes the educational effects of entertaining …

The Significance Of Art Education: Creating A Digital Classroom Advocating Art Education, Keri K. O'Connell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Art programs have always been essential to education; they have provided students with a safe place to express themselves and make risk-free choices. However, due to budget cuts to the public school systems, art education is in jeopardy. The impact of the budget cuts on art education is widespread and has reduced student access to the arts and lowered the quality of the art education programs within our public school system. Schools can only provide students with the necessary resources, such as art supplies, technology, and professional development for art educators, with adequate funding. When schools are not receiving adequate …

Exploring Bibliotherapy And Creating Family Literacy Bags In Response To Community Violence, Sierra Urbaez

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis sought to aid children in coping with community violence. As violent crimes terrorize communities near and far, children are hearing about them. Children might learn about this violence on the news or by overhearing adults' discussions. Regardless, this thesis sought to help students navigate a world that may be anxiety filled. This thesis includes an exploration of bibliotherapy and discussions of the use of books in a therapeutic manner to delve deeper into its profound effects. The topics of this thesis surround social-emotional learning, which is also investigated and explained. The benefits of combining bibliotherapy and social-emotional learning …

Preparing College Students With Adhd For Online Job Interviews: Self-Regulation & Psychophysiology, Tahnee L. Wilder

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This dissertation investigates the complex dynamics of digital communication, highlights the unique stressors it places on college students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and advocates for adopting interdisciplinary methods to enhance their participation in online communication environments. While online interviewing has become increasingly common in the employment domain, it poses unique difficulties for individuals with ADHD, who may struggle with self-regulation and communication skills. Due to the absence of physical presence, online interviews pose a significant challenge to individuals in perceiving and responding to the nuanced range of non-verbal cues, which can greatly impact the effectiveness of their communication. To advance …

Gender Representation In Children's Media And Preschool-Aged Girls’ Internalized Beliefs About Gender, Jessica Lindsey Kanne Atkins

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The current study examines patterns of gender representation through three categories (distribution, presentation, and stereotyped behaviors) in children’s media and how these patterns relate to preschool-aged girls’ internalized beliefs about gender. Both historical and presently available children’s media tends to display high levels of stereotypical gender representation. By preschool age, children have already developed distinctions between boys and girls, and hold internalized beliefs regarding gender. The objective of the current study is to examine the relationship between these two factors. To accomplish this, preschool-aged girls were interviewed to assess their internalized beliefs about gender. Their caregivers completed questionnaires related to …

Alexander Von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist, And Environmental Pioneer (2019) By Danica Novgorodoff, Peter Shea

Picture Books

As a young boy, Alexander Von Humboldt came up with divergent questions about the birds and mountains and animals he saw, and brought all those questions together under two big questions that stayed important for him over a long life: “How are these things different?” and “How are they nevertheless connected?” As the reader watches Humboldt looking at a hawk and a mouse, volcanoes and farmland, palm trees and pine trees, Europe and Ecuador, Europeans and Indigenous people, one comes to expect what he will say: “They are different, and yet they are connected.” This idea is much bigger than …

Least Flycatchers Under-Reported In Fall Migration In Arkansas —A Citizen Science Conundrum, L. Barnes, R. Kannan

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus is a small passerine migrant bird that passes through Arkansas in fall and spring migration. The birds are vocal during spring passage but relatively quiet and unobtrusive during fall migration, leading to many fewer reports by birdwatchers in fall than spring. We use eBird maps and data to present evidence to support this discrepancy between fall and spring observations. We also show that the species is under-reported in Arkansas during the fall compared to neighboring regions. This may be in part due to the reluctance of some birders to provide the minimal evidence required to …