Digital Commons Network^™

Prairie Play, Sarah Moss

The Voice

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Menstrual Health And Well-Being Among Adolescent Girls In Urban And Rural Areas Of The Belegavi District: A Crossectional Study, Arati Mahishale, Nagma Khan

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Due to their relationship with several health hazards, menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and awareness are major public health concerns in both urban and rural settings. This study examined the awareness of MHM among adolescent girls in Belagavi and assessed their knowledge and understanding of menstruation and related taboos.

Methods: In the Belagavi District of Karnataka, India, a cross-sectional, community-based observational study was carried out. About 380 (as 8 were excluded) menstruating adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 18 who attended different convent and government schools were included in the study. IBM SPSS version 20 was used to …

Education Of Grandchildren Within Skipped-Generation Households: Challenges And Experiences Influencing Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Myra Ann Randolph

Student Theses and Dissertations

Skipped-generation households are not traditional, as the typical guardians do not include the mother, father, or foster parents. They are the households of grandparents who have accepted the responsibility to provide care for their grandchildren. Recent literature demonstrates that grandfamilies, inclusive of grandparents and grandchildren, experience many stress-related challenges. The problem is that grandparents responsible for raising their grandchildren are required to adopt new parental roles. This can become very stressful, as many may not have the knowledge of, or access to, contemporary supports and resources to effectively adopt and raise their grandchildren. The purpose of this study was to …

Private, Public, And Head Start Prekindergarten Programs And Their Effect On Kindergarten Readiness Scores, Brianna Brasseaux Comeaux

Student Theses and Dissertations

It is extremely beneficial for students to attend an effective prekindergarten program prior to their kindergarten year of school. The problem that was addressed in this study is that even though the United States offers many types of prekindergarten programs such as private, public, and Head Start, it is still not known which program is most beneficial to a student entering kindergarten. The United States does not currently offer a universal prekindergarten in all states; therefore, each prekindergarten program may not be as effective as they should. The framework for this study is based off early theorists Jean Piaget and …

Disproportionality In Discipline And Academic Achievement Of African American Students In South Carolina School Districts, Joyce Haigler Conyers

Student Theses and Dissertations

In the state of South Carolina, African American students make up 34% of the student population but 59% of students receive out-of-school suspension. It was assumed by prior research statistics that the disproportionality of discipline produces lower academic achievement for African American students. An examination of the disproportionality of discipline through a structural theoretical lens as an effort to understand the inequity in the application of exclusionary discipline, specifically out-of-school suspension, for African American students and how it affects their academic performance was the focus of this study. The data for this non-experimental quantitative study was obtained from the South …

Exploring The Relationships Between Policy, Instructional Time, And Instructional Practices In Elementary Science Classrooms, Amanda Sciarpelletti

Student Theses and Dissertations

The longstanding call to prioritize science education has gained momentum, particularly with the noticeable changes aligned with reform-era practices. This quantitative study explored the relationship between policy, time allocation, and teacher practices in elementary science education, guided by constructive learning theory as the theoretical framework. The study utilized a quantitative survey to measure how much time elementary school teachers spend teaching science and understand how this impacts their teaching methods, specifically the reform-era vs. traditional teaching practices. Surveys were conducted electronically with K-5 teachers who are National Science Teacher Association members. Findings from the quantitative analysis via a series of …

Socioeconomic Status And Stereotype Threat: Does Stereotype Threat Associated With Low Socioeconomic Status Impact Academic Performance, Gwendolyn Rains

Student Theses and Dissertations

Stereotype threat effect (STE) is a psychosocial phenomenon that can cause performance decrements on standardized tests. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore standardized test construct through the lens of intelligence theories as a potential mediator for STE for low socioeconomic status (LSES) students in rural Arkansas schools. The theory of STE will be used to explain why LSES are susceptible to STE. The researcher collected quantitative data through an experimental design; participants took either a performance-based or a traditionally formatted math and literacy test to determine if scores (dependent variable) were significantly impacted by test construct within …

Exploring Spin Dynamics Using Time-Resolved Magneto-Optic Kerr Effect Spectroscopy, Arup Barua

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The interaction between light and matter plays a crucial role in numerous systems, including optoelectronicdevices such as Photodiode (PD), Laser diode (LD), LED, solar cells to even biological components like photosystem II, and potential upcoming quantum technologies. Light is absorbed or emitted usually at a scale smaller than a nanometer, with associated processes happening within attosecond to picosecond durations. It is known that in a vacuum, static magnetic fields do not affect light. On the other hand, the magnetic field or magnetization of a material affects the light that passes through or is reflected by the material. The magneto-optic effect …

Author Bios, Back Matter 04

CouRaGeouS Cuentos: A Journal of Counternarratives

No abstract provided.

Gender Role Depictions In Arabic Children’S Picture Books, Aljawharah A. Almuqbil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to explore gender role depictions in children's Arabic picture books. The importance of this study emerged from its focus on young children, where the concept of gender begins to be constructed. This study provided insight into the nature of gender roles in children’s picture books, especially under the remarkable changes that Saudi society is witnessing and the lack of Arab studies in this area. Social cognitive theory, gender schema theory, and critical literacy pedagogy guided the study. A sample of 26 picture books was selected from the Child Book Club at King Abdulaziz Public Library and analyzed …

Teacher Candidate Learning Of Interdisciplinary Controversial Issues: Linking Social Studies And Science In The Elementary School Curriculum, Brandon M. Butler, Stephen R. Burgin, Mark Diacopoulos, William Mcconnell

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Teaching controversial issues poses challenges for teacher candidates, stemming from apprehensions about potential backlash and gaps in content and pedagogical knowledge. The prevailing emphasis on tested subjects such as mathematics and reading/writing in elementary school education often sidelines social studies and science, limiting opportunities for candidates to engage with these disciplines and their associated instructional strategies, including addressing controversial topics. Integrating social studies and science with other subject areas emerges as a viable approach to ensure comprehensive education. Teacher education coursework serves as a vital platform for exposing educators to interdisciplinary curriculum design and implementation. Such exposure prompts teacher candidates …

Transformative Pathways: Implementing Intercultural Competence Development In Higher Education Using Kotter’S Change Model, Owura Kuffuor, Sakhi Aggrawal, Aparajita Jaiswal, Ronald J. Smith, Pamela V. Morris

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

This study explores the efficacy of Kotter’s eight-step change model in fostering intercultural competence among faculty and staff within a large Midwestern public university. Recognizing the need for intercultural development in higher education, this research applies a structured change framework coupled with the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) assessment tool to guide the change process. The development of intercultural competence among faculty and staff is crucial for creating inclusive learning environments, as they play a pivotal role in modeling intercultural competence and fostering students’ skills necessary to navigate an increasingly diverse and interconnected world. This study employs an instrumental case study …

In Their Own Words: Lgbtqia Plus Stigma In Secondary School, Erin Stevenson, Greg Sandman

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

LGBTQIA+ youth often face stigma from society as they develop their personal identities. In the United States, legislation has recently been focusing on reducing protections in schools for queer youth and limiting access to resources like gender affirming healthcare. Youth have increasingly been targeted for identifying as queer and have experienced verbal and physical violence for expressing their gender identities. Research links stigmatization with increased mental health and substance use problems. However, there is limited information on how stigma experienced during adolescence may continue to impact young adults over time. Using a qualitative retrospective framework, LGBTQIA+-identified undergraduates (N = 8) …

Board 125: Work In Progress: Faculty Experiences And Learning Through Oral-Assessment Implementation In Engineering Courses, Minju Kim, Carolyn L. Sandoval, Josephine Relaford-Doyle, Torus Washington Ii, Saharnaz Baghdadchi, Nathan Delson, Marko Lubarda, Alex M. Phan, Curt Schurgers, Huihui Qi

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

This WIP qualitative research paper explores faculty experiences with implementing oral exams in high-enrollment undergraduate engineering courses at a research university. With a primary goal to improve conceptual mastery, as well as a desire to ensure academic integrity in the sudden move to remote instruction at the height of the pandemic, a group of faculty in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments implemented oral assessments in their own engineering courses across several quarters. They formed a research group with educational developers in a teaching and learning center on campus, and investigated the impact of oral assessments …

Meta-Theoretic Competence For Computational Agent-Based Modeling, Hillary Swanson, Uri Wilensky

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

In the U.S. context, science standards encourage educators to engage students in modeling practices, including computational modeling. While much work has investigated the productivity of computational modeling with respect to students' development of scientific content knowledge, less work has focused on students' development of knowledge and skills for participation in computational modeling practices. A first step in understanding how these practices develop is examining students' activity in the context of computational modeling environments with attention to the productive moves they make. These moves can provide insight into the knowledge they bring to their learning, which may be foundational to the …

What Happened To The Geometry? Examining Spatial And Mathematical Concepts In Computational Toys And Kits For Young Children, Jody Clarke-Midura, Jessica F. Shumway, Anahita Ashineh, Alireza Zandi, Whitney Clawson

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper explores the design of computational toys and kits for young children (ages 4-7) as tools for learning integrated mathematical, spatial, and computational thinking concepts. Specifically, we examine how the design features of the toys and kits represent the concepts of rotation on a point and spatial orientation of the agent. We examine toys and kits sold commercially, developed through research, and used in early childhood classrooms. Our findings indicate that the mathematical and spatial concepts are overlooked in some designs. Prior research examined toys for their affordances related to computational thinking, the present study contributes to understanding of …

Oppressive Pushout: Examining Differences In Discipline And “Dropout” By Race, Gender, And Sexual Orientation, Danielle N. Aguilar, Taylor Lewis, Jude Paul Matias Dizon, Pearl Lo, Ángel González, Jason C. Garvey, Mario I. Suárez

Journal of Queer and Trans Studies in Education

Drawing on well-established insights, our study adds nuance to the discussion regarding school pushout practices by centering race, sexual orientation and gender beyond the binary. By way of descriptive and inferential statistics using the High School Longitudinal Study (HSLS:09), our article seeks to disrupt the cisheteronormative discussion regarding exclusionary school discipline and institutionally inflicted pushout that impacts the educational trajectories and opportunities of queer and trans Black, Indigenous, students of color (QT BIPOC). Results from our chi-square analyses revealed significant differences in rates of cutting/skipping class, in-school suspension, suspension or expulsion, and dropping out across our four groups: QT BIPOC …

Tutors’ Experiences Of Using A Data-Free Mobile Instant Messenger For Electronic Tutoring: A Case Study In Accounting And Information Systems Courses, Fazlyn Petersen, Ronald Arendse

The African Journal of Information Systems

In South Africa, data-intensive synchronous tutoring platforms like Zoom can be exclusionary due to limited internet access at home. Challenges in electronic tutoring include device scarcity, high data costs, network issues and low digital skills. To mitigate data costs, a data-free mobile instant messenger was tested for tutoring, guided by the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework (TPACK). The study included first-year accounting and third-year information systems courses at a historically disadvantaged institution. Qualitative data from tutors revealed that technology-related knowledge was crucial for effective electronic tutoring. Tutors with strong technology and content knowledge utilised the data-free application effectively and employed …

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 …

June 20, 2024 Minutes, Swosu Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Exploring External Engagement In Higher Education Through Defining Partnerships, Colleen Reaney

Dissertations

This research study has been designed to be an evergreen project to help higher education institutions define their external partnerships. The action research model has been used to create and test a model of external engagement, which was later redefined as the Reaney Model of External Engagement with the intent for continuous improvement. Further modification of this research study will need to be tested to strengthen the Reaney Model of External Engagement core while considering external factors that create challenges within the higher education space. Challenges that may arise to help higher education institutions clearly define external partnerships may include, …

General Education And Special Education Teachers' Attitudes And Comfort Levels In Having Appropriate Conversations With Special Needs Students: A Causal-Comparative Study, Jessica Leah Hensley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study is to determine if there is a difference in special education and general education teachers’ attitudes and comfort level in teaching sex education. Students with intellectual disabilities need a sex education curriculum that can be extended if needed to ensure that they understand and are able to apply their knowledge to personal situations if they arise. The study’s sample includes high school and middle school special education and general education teachers. The sample was taken from participants who volunteered to take the survey via a link posted on social media account. A Microsoft …

A Hermeneutical Phenomenological Analysis Of Cross-Race/Cross-Ethnic Academic Advising First-Generation Latina/O Students Attending A Predominantly White Institution, Aisha A. Alvarez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of first-generation Latina/o students with non-Latina/o academic advisors at a Predominantly White Institution, Pink Ivy University. It is important to identify policies and practices for academic advising that can strengthen the relationship between first-generation Latina/o students and non-Latina/o academic advisors. Miller’s relational-cultural theory (RCT) guided this study. RCT was used to shape the sub-research questions and was used to frame the data analysis. First-generation Latina/o students over 18 who have completed at least one full year at the selected PWI and have used the services of their non-Latina/o …

Evidence-Based Practices For Military-Connected Students With Disruptive Behaviors Receiving Response To Intervention/Section 504 Services: School Counselors' Attitudes And Theoretical Orientation, Eddie Benitez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This cross-sectional quantitative study compares primary and secondary counselors’ attitudes and theoretical orientation for evidence-based practices for military-connected students with disruptive behaviors receiving Response to Intervention and Section 504 services in Texas. This study is paramount for military-connected students with disruptive behaviors in closing gaps in academic performance, social-emotional skills, social justice, and multiculturalism in education. Military-connected students with disruptive behaviors confront the risk of not receiving evidence-based interventions through school services due to school counselors’ practices and theoretical approach. The researcher used a quantitative cross-sectional method and three analyses: Pearson r correlation, Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), ANOVA, and …

Exploring Chaplains’ Lived Experience Concerning Mental Health Stigma And Suicidal Thoughts In The Military Context, Eric T. Victorino

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The empirical inquiry at the heart of this qualitative phenomenological research revolves around the identification of mental health stigma and suicidal ideation within the military context. This study delves into the lived experiences of military chaplains as they interact with service members grappling with thoughts of suicide and dealing with the associated mental health stigma. By examining the viewpoints of United States Army chaplains, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the perceived mental health stigma and its consequences for service members who are contending with suicidal thoughts. Chaplains’ unique viewpoints will contribute to an enriched comprehension of mental …

2024 June 18 - Medical Student Education Committee Retreat Minutes, Medical Student Education Committee, East Tennessee State University

Medical Student Education Committee Minutes

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned: A Case Study On The Creation Of An Online Phd Program, Ashley H. Tharpe

FDLA Journal

This case study delves into the development of an online PhD program in Health Sciences at Liberty University, highlighting valuable lessons learned and offering insights for effective program creation and implementation. The study addresses the complexities of curriculum development, the importance of comprehensive communication, the role of faculty mentorship, and the significance of fostering a sense of community in online education. Drawing on the experiences of program developers, faculty members, and students, this research sheds light on strategies for aligning course content with program goals, embracing imperfection in program design, and cultivating a vibrant online learning community. Additionally, the study …

Evolution Of Global Anatomy Research Through Covid-19: A Post-Pandemic Evaluation, Harsh Chheda, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) struck the world with a deep impact on many countries' healthcare systems. More specifically, anatomical research experienced a drastic setback due to the limitations and restrictions placed upon them by the medical community. This study aims to review how COVID-19 guidelines presented conflict regarding the retrieval and use of cadavers, as well as how anatomy research was modified on a global scale owing to the pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak called for several changes upon each significant anatomical research technique, ranging from cadaver dissection to diagnostic imaging. Given the remarkable shift in medical research guidelines …

Global Implications Of Covid-19 On Education And Research In Healthcare And Stem: Analysis Of Case Studies, Yumna Indorewala, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

The zoonotic novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 posed major threats to the world’s economy, social development, and public health. Education and research in STEM and healthcare were no exceptions to the global implications of the Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Social distancing guidelines were initially recommended to refrain from in-person operations for preventing the transmission of the virus. As academic organizations implemented multifarious methods to effectively transition to remote/online or hybrid educational formats, COVID-19 necessitated designing, adopting, as well as evaluating the efficacy of new instructional approaches, especially for disciplines that require active, experiential learning such as healthcare and STEM. These …

Proceedings Of The Cuny Games Conference 10.0, Robert O. Duncan, Grace Axler-Diperte, Joe Bisz, Christina Boyle, Devorah Kletenik, Carolyn Stallard

Publications and Research

The ten-year anniversary (!) of the CUNY Games Conference combines workshops, idea exchanges, interactive participant presentations, playtesting, and playing tabletop games into a two-day hybrid event to promote and discuss game-based learning. The conference focuses on creative pedagogy, such as playful learning activities or games, that teachers can use in the classroom every day. Day 1 featured interactive presentations by attendees, informal idea exchange sessions, and workshops by the conference organizers. Day 2 featured select presentations and workshops, poster sessions, playtesting and game modding, and casual play of tabletop games.