Digital Commons Network^™

A Personal History Of The Department Of Biology, Margaret L. May

VCU University History Books

Former faculty member Margaret May recounts the history and development of the Department of Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Does Bambi Need Privacy? The Impact Of Human Recreational Trail Traffic On Abundance And Daily Activity Of The White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus), Diana Alvarez

Journal of Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research

Humans have a significant impact on wildlife populations. Although not as obvious, even non-consumptive recreational activities (i.e. hiking and mountain biking) can impact wildlife. Previous research has suggested that human traffic can impact the movement patterns of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Specifically, as human traffic increases, deer sightings decrease. Also, due to their crepuscular nature, deer peak activity is at dawn and dusk, yet one study reported a decrease in deer sightings in the evening that seemed to correspond to a peak in human traffic. However, the cause-and-effect relationship between human traffic and deer daily movements has …

Placing Value On Environmental Literacy: A Case Study Of Biology Faculty Experiences, Ilene Sigrid Eberly

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to explore how contingent biology instructors place value on environmental literacy in their instruction and the instructional strategies used to foster their student's environmental literacy. This study also investigated the contextual experiences of contingent instructors influencing the value they place on environmental literacy. Participants included 11 faculty teaching introductory biology courses from two public universities in the Northeast. Our analysis focused on triangulation of participants semi-structured interviews, instructor-generated artifacts, and field notes from classroom observations, interviews, and artifacts. Findings revealed contingent biology instructors understand the importance of placing value on environmental literacy in …

Experiences Of Undergraduates And Graduate Teaching Assistants In Biology Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences, Emma Crystal Goodwin

Dissertations and Theses

Evidence of positive student outcomes from course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) has sparked implementation of CUREs in introductory biology laboratory courses, as one approach to boosting student engagement in research. In a CURE, students collaborate with other students and instructors on a research project, where they conduct novel scientific research that has relevance to a local or scientific community. However, previous research rarely considers that graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) often teach introductory labs. The classroom role of GTAs expands in a CURE--they no longer need to simply teach a lab class, but also to serve as research mentors. GTAs, who …

Threshold Concepts In Web Development: The Impact Of Education And Experience On The Perceptions Of Practitioners, Michael Lee Mick

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

The Threshold Concepts (TCs) framework posits characteristics of critical concepts that enable a learner to see things in a new and unforgettable way that allows the incorporation of cognitive approaches and skills needed by professionals in the discipline. All previous research has been qualitatively oriented toward discovery of candidate TCs, without, so far, quantitative studies of the candidate TCs recognition within the professional ranks. An underrepresented group in previous research is that of Web development professionals.

This proposal describes initial quantitative research utilizing the TCs framework in the Web development area to measure the perception of candidate TCs by professionals …

The Impact Of Using An Online Learning Management System On Student Biology Achievement In A Hispanic Rural High School, Brent J. Burkott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose for this study was to determine the effect of using online Learning Management Systems with a Blended Learning pedagogy on state assessment achievement of high school biology students with interactions analyzed based on teaching method (Face-to-Face/Blended Learning), course type (Honors/Regular) biological sex (Male/Female), risk factor (At-Risk/Not At-Risk), and socioeconomic status (High/Low). The research questions were: (1) What is the difference in achievement scores between students taught in a Blended Learning environment with a Learning Management System verses a traditional Face-to-Face learning environment, and (2) What differences in achievement exist on the Texas assessment based on teaching method, course …

Teacher Perception Towards The Use Of Information And Communication Technology (Ict) In Secondary Schools In Ebonyi State, Nigeria, Chinwe Enyi, Mkpoikanke Otu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined the teacher perception towards the use of (ICT) in teaching Biology in secondary schools in Okposi education zone of Ebonyi state. Ten schools and all 15 Biology teachers in the schools were used for the study which adopted descriptive survey design. Two instruments were used. The first one was a checklist on availability of (ICT) facilities in schools while the second was a questionnaire for Biology teachers on their perception on the use of ICT and the problems militating against the integration of ICT in their work. Simple percentages and mean were used in answering the research …

Columns Spring 2021, Southern Adventist University

Alumni Newsletter

Features the article "Giving Their All". Danae (Bland) Netteburg, ’02, MD, and her husband, Olen—also a medical doctor—have never made it their goal to earn praise or set records. Instead, dedicated to following God’s path for their lives, they have an internal drive to give their all, no matter if they are serving in the mission field or hiking the Appalachian Trail. Other articles discuss Southern student's outdoor adventures and the legacy of Dr. David Smith.

A Composite Textual Phenomenological Approach To Cures Versus Traditional Laboratory Experiences, Amie S. Sommers, Dana Richter-Egger, Christine E. Cutucache

The Qualitative Report

Here we present unique perspectives from undergraduate students (n=3) in STEM who have taken both a traditional laboratory iteration and a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) iteration of the same introductory chemistry course. CUREs can be effective models for integrating research in courses and fostering student learning gains. Via phenomenological interviews, we asked students to describe the differences in their perspectives, feelings, and experiences between a traditional lab guided by a lab manual and a CURE. We found that (i.) critical thinking/problem solving, (ii.) group work/collaboration, (iii.) student-led research questions and activities, and (iv.) time management are the top four …

Co-Teaching Practices Of General And Special Educators In Secondary Science Classrooms, Samantha Jolene Ringl

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The purpose of this study was to establish current levels of co-teaching implementation and to explore teachers’ perceptions of co-teaching and co-teacher relationships. This study also examined whether there is a relationship between teachers’ perception of their co-teaching relationship and their perception of co-teaching implementation in their classrooms. Analysis revealed that teachers generally have positive perceptions of their co-teaching partners and relationships, and these perceptions did not significantly differ between science teachers and special educators. However, this study found that teachers are not regularly planning lessons together, sharing the workload in the classroom, or choosing co-teaching models together. This study …

The Relationship Of Career And Technical Student Organizations To College And Career Readiness, Brenda Haynes

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Many schools are waking up to the reality that students need programs that will keep them alert and ready for their next level in life. Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) are the co-curricular programs associated with every career and technical education course and promise to offer opportunities for a peek into the real world. This study examined the relationship of CTSOs to college and career readiness. Career and technical education is oftentimes overlooked. Qualitative data were collected in the form of interviews of former high school students who were CTSO participants and teachers who were advisors of CTSOs. This …

An Evaluation Of College Preparedness On Natural Selection Principles Following The Completion Of An Entry-Level Biology Course, Amy Bell

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Evolution education in secondary education has long been a topic of research. The level of knowledge and acceptance of students upon entering college has been studied using various methods; however, no study had provided the perception of preparedness from the student perspective nor had analyzed the individual Natural Selection principles. This study analyzed college freshmen (n=162) in an entry-level BIO 101 course. Participants were given the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection Instrument (CINSI) and perception survey questions upon completion of the course. The CINSI data was then analyzed for each of the four Natural Selection principles as well as …

Visual Arts Enhance Instruction In Observation And Analysis Of Microscopic Forms In Developmental And Cell Biology, Max Ezin, Christina Noravian, Amira Mahomed, Adam Lyle, Aveleen Gill, Tamira Elul

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

Two important skills for scientists in developmental and cell biology, as well as in fields such as neurobiology, histology and pathology, are: 1) observation of features and details in microscopic images of cells, and 2) quantification of cellular features observed in microscopic images. However, current training in developmental and cell biology does not emphasize observation and quantitative analysis of microscopic images, and it is unclear how best to teach students these skills. Here, we describe our experiences applying visual artistic approaches to instruct undergraduate and graduate students in how to observe and analyze cellular forms in microscopic images. At Loyola …

Obtaining And Propertics Polymermetalcomplex On The Base Carboxymethylcellulose And Selenium, Abdishukur Abduhalilovich Sarymsakov, Khaydar Ergashovich Yunusov, Foziljon Mamarayim O’G'Li Turakulov, Javlon Zafar O’G’Li Jalilov, Ziyovuddin Zayniddinovich Hakimov, Bychkovsky Mihayilovich Pavel, Mamarayim Aynaqulovich Turakulov

Bulletin of Gulistan State University

In this study, technical sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) with degree of substitution (DS) = 0.62-0.90 and a degree of polymerization (DP) = 200-600 were washed in 70% ethyl alcohol and a 2% fraction of purified Na-CMC was centrifugation at a speed of 6000 rpm for 20 minutes. A 0.1 M solution of SeO2 was added to the centrifuged Na-CMC solution at 60 ⁰C and mixed mechanically. Samples of gels, films and powders containing a solution of Na-CMC containing stabilized selenium nanoparticles synthesized by chemical reduction were taken and their physicochemical properties were studied. The size and shape of selenium nanoparticles present …

Obtaining And Propertics Polymermetalcomplex On The Base Carboxymethylcellulose And Selenium, Abdishukur Abduhalilovich Sarymsakov, Khaydar Ergashovich Yunusov, Foziljon Mamarayim O’G'Li Turakulov, Javlon Zafar O’G’Li Jalilov, Ziyovuddin Zayniddinovich Hakimov

Bulletin of Gulistan State University

In this study, technical sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) with degree of substitution (DS) = 0.62-0.90 and a degree of polymerization (DP) = 200-600 were washed in 70% ethyl alcohol and a 2% fraction of purified Na-CMC was centrifugation at a speed of 6000 rpm for 20 minutes. A 0.1 M solution of SeO2 was added to the centrifuged Na-CMC solution at 60 ⁰C and mixed mechanically. Samples of gels, films and powders containing a solution of Na-CMC containing stabilized selenium nanoparticles synthesized by chemical reduction were taken and their physicochemical properties were studied. The size and shape of selenium nanoparticles present …

Short- And Long-Term Impacts Of A Deliberative Pedagogy In Introductory Biology And Chemistry Courses, Liz Rain-Griffith

Dissertations and Theses

There have been multiple national calls for curricular reform in college-level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including a need to instill democratic skills in students. Democratic skill building can be embedded in STEM classrooms through intentional "deliberative pedagogies" which include skills in: communication, collaboration, and application. We developed and implemented a deliberative pedagogy, Deliberative Democracy (DD), across introductory majors and non-majors biology courses and a majors chemistry course. In two separate studies, I took a longitudinal, qualitative research approach to understand introductory biology and chemistry students' experiences and perceptions of DD. For the first study, I tracked a cohort …

Resources For Teaching And Assessing The Vision And Change Biology Core Concepts, Janet L. Branchaw, Pamela A. Pape-Lindstrom, Kimberly D. Tanner, Sarah A. Bissonnette, Tawnya L. Cary, Brian A. Couch, Alison J. Crowe, Jenny K. Knight, Katharine Semsar, Julia I. Smith, Michelle K. Smith, Mindi M. Summers, Caroline J. Wienhold, Christian D. Wright, Sara E. Brownell

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The Vision and Change report called for the biology community to mobilize around teaching the core concepts of biology. This essay describes a collection of resources developed by several different groups that can be used to respond to the report’s call to transform undergraduate education at both the individual course and departmental levels. First, we present two frameworks that help articulate the Vision and Change core concepts, the BioCore Guide and the Conceptual Elements (CE) Framework, which can be used in mapping the core concepts onto existing curricula and designing new curricula that teach the biology core concepts. Second, we …

Undergraduate Biology Education Research Gordon Research Conference: A Meeting Report, Erin L. Dolan, Michelle Borrero, Kristine Callis-Duehl, Miranda M. Chen Musgrove, Joelyn De Lima, Isi Ero-Tolliver, Laci M. Gerhart, Emma Goodwin, Lindsey R. Hamilton, Meredith A. Henry, Jose Herrera, Bethany Huot, Stacey Kiser, Melissa E. Ko, Marcy E. Kravec, Mark Lee, Lisa B. Limeri, Melanie E. Peffer, Debra Pires, Juan S. Ramirez Lugo, Starlette M. Sharp, Nicole A. Suarez

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The 2019 Undergraduate Biology Education Research Gordon Research Conference (UBER GRC), titled “Achieving Widespread Improvement in Undergraduate Education,” brought together a diverse group of researchers and practitioners working to identify, promote, and understand widespread adoption of evidence-based teaching, learning, and success strategies in undergraduate biology. Graduate students and postdocs had the additional opportunity to present and discuss research during a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that preceded the GRC. This report provides a broad overview of the UBER GRC and GRS and highlights major themes that cut across invited talks, poster presentations, and informal discussions. Such themes include the importance of …

In-Service Biology Teachers’ Perceptions And Pedagogical Rating Of Two Mobile Learning Applications Recommended For Learning Biology In Nigerian Secondary Schools, Uchenna Udeani Prof, Jeremiah Nosakhare Akhigbe Mr

The African Journal of Information Systems

The study investigated in-service biology teachers’ perceptions of the instructional use of smartphones equipped with Biology Mobile Learning Applications (BMLAs) in the learning of biology concepts in Nigerian senior secondary schools and the pedagogical rating of two commercially available mobile learning applications recommended for learning biology. The study utilized a descriptive survey design. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings gathered revealed that the in-service biology teachers had good perceptions of the instructional use of BMLAs and that these perceptions influence their pedagogical rating and selection of mobile applications. The study also revealed that demographic variables such …

Surplus Antioxidants Are Pathogenic For Hearts And Skeletal Muscle, Public Relations

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Columbus State University Honors College: Senior Theses, Spring 2020, Tehgan Anguilm, Jessica Barkhouse, Valencia Coleman, Andrea Dorbu, Cortland Ellis, Caitlyn Gallagher, Jenna Gaskins, Ashley Mayer, Abby Grace Moore, Collins Nelson, Joshua Newbend, Timothy Pitts, Chad Reynolds, Jazmin Rush, Anju Shajan, Candice Tate, Persia Tillman, Joanne Youngblood

Senior Theses from the Honors College

This is a collection of senior theses written by honors students at Columbus State University in Spring 2020.

Titles:

- "Recombinant Expression of Preptin Analogs for Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis of Residues 27-29" , by Tehgan Anguilm

- "Laying-Sequence Variation in Yolk Carotenoids of Eastern Bluebirds" , by Jessica Barkhouse,

- "SIMBPM: An Intelligent Business Simulation That Predicts Management Styles" , by Valencia Coleman

- "Approach and Avoidance Coping Humor Motives and Their Relation to Trauma Exposure and Physical Health" , by Andrea Dorbu

- "Staying in the Moment: Acting Methods Through Video for the Novice and Veteran Actor" , by …

The Rising Profile Of Sexual Harassment On Campus: How Do Faculty Respond Inside And Outside The Classroom, Scott C. Strother

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Faculty behavior inside and outside the classroom is one of the many concerns faced by higher education administrators. Inappropriate comments, behavior, or acts engaged in by faculty members have resulted in sexual harassment complaints being filed by students, and in some cases resulted in costly litigation and settlements for some colleges and universities. In the recent news, public figures like actor Bill Cosby and Hollywood director Harvey Weinstein have been openly accused of sexual harassment and/or rape. High publicity matters like these presumably have an influence on awareness of the issue of sexual harassment.

The purpose of this study was …

The Roles And Benefits Of Using Undergraduate Student Leaders To Support The Work Of Summit-P, Janet Bowers, Bryan D. Poole, Caroline Maher-Boulis, Ashley Schwartz, Angelica Bloomquist, Erica Slate Young

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

The article by Poole, Turner, and Maher-Boulis (2020) describes one way in which undergraduates have been used to support the SUMMIT-P goal of investigating examples of how mathematics and statistics are applied in partner discipline courses. Two other universities in the SUMMIT-P consortium, San Diego State University and Oregon State University, also use undergraduates in different ways to support the work of integrating science applications into math classes. In this article, we compare and contrast these three uses to further highlight this somewhat untapped resource.

Work Ethic Skills And A Liberal Arts Education: Using Work-Integrated Learning In A Liberal Arts Course To Enhance Students' Work Ethic Skills And Demonstrate The Practicality Of A Liberal Arts Education., Jennifer M. Lopes

Theses and Dissertations

To address the gap in employability skills among recent college graduates, the proposed intervention seeks to integrate work ethic skills (WES) into the general education curriculum in a practical, efficient, and effective way to develop and enhance students’ professional skills. Work-integrated learning (WIL), if done properly, is the most effective method for students to learn, practice, and apply professional and academic skills. Problematic is the fact that general education courses have tenuous WIL connections because they are not “job specific. Hence, Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning theory is applied as the theoretical framework for creating effective an meaningful learning experiences via …

The Impact Of Undergraduate Research Experiences On The Development Of Biology Students’ Domain Knowledge, Domain Interest, And Career Aspirations, Amy Haddock Keagy

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Federal and state agencies in the United States have pressured institutions in higher education to increase the number of graduates in STEM disciplines and supply an educated workforce for the increasing shortages in the STEM economy. Undergraduate research experience is one potential mechanism for supporting retention and student success within STEM disciplines. Most evaluations of the impact of undergraduate research to this point have been qualitative research studies. The purpose of this study was to use a quantitative model to examine domain knowledge, domain interest, and career aspirations in undergraduate biology majors and how participation in research experiences may impact …

2006 - Salinas Valley Integrated Regional Water Management Functionally Equivalent Plan Summary Document Update

Miscellaneous Monterey and San Luis Obispo County Documents and Reports

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are encouraging local and regional water management planners to establish integrated regional water management plans through the collaboration of planning efforts and project coordination. The intent is to encourage planners to implement projects focused on meeting multiple water resources needs on a regional basis. Jointly, both agencies are soliciting grant applications for Proposition 50 Chapter 8 grant funding, which was established to provide a fiscal tool to support integrated regional water management. In order to take advantage of this funding opportunity, Monterey County Water Resources …

Ursinus Magazine, Fall 2018, Brock Blomberg, Ed Moorhouse, Jack Croft, Mary Lobo, Richard L. Wallace

Ursinus Magazine, 1995–Present

Breaking ground on the Commons • Levinthal photographs donated to the Berman • First Abele scholarships awarded • Fostering inclusive conversations • Paying it forward • Then and now: Marzella's Pizzeria • Getting to know: Leah Joseph • Beneath the soil • Field of streams • The modern mapmakers • Burning question: Is our relationship with nature catastrophic? • Sustainability by the numbers • Lost and found • Homecoming and Family Weekend • Class notes • In memoriam • Births • Deaths • Weddings • Alumnus chronicles life as "reckless but lucky"

Play And Exhibitions: Expanding Definitions Within Museums, Helena Sizemore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is an exploration of the utilization of play, as a method for visitor engagement, within the context of the museum. Play, as a method for learning and engagement, is often a contested topic between scholars and practitioners within the museum field. This is in part due to the ambiguous nature of defining play, the ever-present dichotomy between work and play, and the struggles museums find in balancing education and entertainment. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, Colorado names play as part of one of its core values. Using anthropological theoretical and methodological approaches, I examine …

Computer-Based Instruction As A Form Of Differentiated Instruction In A Traditional, Teacher-Led, Low-Income, High School Biology Classroom, Cheryl Casey

Dissertations and Theses

In 2015 the U.S. continues to struggle with academic achievement in public schools. Average test scores from 15 year olds taking the Program for International Student Assessment placed the U.S. as 38th out of 71 countries (Drew Devlin, 2017). It is common to discuss elimination of the achievement gap as the single most effective way to improve the U.S.'s mediocre standing among the highest scoring countries in the world in primary and secondary student test scores (McGhee,2004; Flemming 2012). In the broadest sense of the term the "achievement gap" refers to the difference in academic success between different groups of …

The Walking Dead Genealogy: Unsubstantiated Criticisms Of Qualitative Data Analysis Software (Qdas) And The Failure To Put Them To Rest, Kristi Jackson, Trena Paulus, Nicholas H. Woolf

The Qualitative Report

The authors conduct an exposé on the deterministic denunciations of Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS) and how citation errors keep these criticisms alive. They use a zombie metaphor to describe more than two decades of battling these seemingly mindless assessments of QDAS that keep coming –despite their decay – and simply will not die. Focusing exclusively on the criticism of separation/distancing, which alleges that the computer and the software interfere with the researcher’s familiarity with the data, the authors trace one current strand of this criticism through a literature genealogy. Three citation errors (half-truth, proxy, and hearsay) are identified to …