Digital Commons Network^™

Building A College-Going Culture For Middle School Eighth Grade Students In A Historically Low Number College-Bound Area, Silvia Elizondo

Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative research study aimed to address the problem of students’ low enrollment numbers in a historically low number of college-bound areas in South Texas. The theoretical frameworks utilized to explore this topic were self-efficacy and social capital. The proposed theories explored students’ level of self-efficacy, social capital networks, and teachers’ perceptions of creating and sustaining a college-going culture. The findings indicated a need for early college advisement and establishing college-going cultures in elementary and middle school, teacher professional development, college awareness and knowledge for parents, and college preparatory programs at the middle school level. This research study provided …

Exploring Secondary Science Teacher Knowledge, Understanding, Skills, And Training To Support The Teachers' Ability To Infuse World Class Skills In The South Carolina Science Curriculum, Ashlee Penn Buchanan

Student Theses and Dissertations

The study aimed to investigate how the knowledge, understanding and skills of secondary science teachers in SC relate to their capacity to deliberately integrate World Class Skills (WCS) into their science classroom instruction through effective planning and pedagogical choices. The study employs the Partnership for 21 Century Learning framework to establish WCS and Desimone's effective professional learning framework to assess if the teacher's learning experiences align with the skills, knowledge, and understanding related to the topic. In the study, previously validated tools were used to collect data and define variables through a non-experimental quantitative design. These variables were measured through …

Critical Race Theory, Neoliberalism, And The Illiberal University, Rodney D. Coates

Journal of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

No abstract provided.

Answering The Calls For Inclusion From St. John's Students, Natalie P. Byfield

Journal of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Futures-Integrating Indigenous Perspectives Into An Environmental Assessment Framework: An Analysis Of The Mauri Model, Anna Bettini

Journal of Environmental Sustainability

The twin concepts of sustainable development and sustainability have been key points in new policies. Nonetheless, only the Western scientific perspective is typically considered, excluding other voices and leading to a very narrow vision of “sustainability”. The following article investigates the benefits to including indigenous knowledge and principles, considering their values rather than limitations and presents two specific case studies using the Mauri Model Decision Making Framework, a tool applied for environmental assessment, seen as a more cultural-friendly sustainable approach.

January 23, 2024 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Underserved And Underrecognized: Elevating Teaching Strategies, Special Education Eligibility, And Educational Outcomes For Grade 2-6 Girls On The Autism Spectrum, Jessica T. Ford

Doctorate in Education

This study involved a qualitative exploratory case study research design and employed in-depth online interviews as the primary data collection method. Participants were former or current special education teachers in Minnesota who had worked with Grade 2-6 girls on the autism spectrum and were sourced from professional networks, educational associations, online platforms, chain sampling, and snowball sampling. This study sought to elucidate the reasons behind the underidentification of girls eligible for autism spectrum special education services, streamline their qualification process, reveal practical educational strategies for academic, emotional, and social support, and furnish accessible resources and training alternatives for classroom teachers …

Chimes: January 22, 2024, Calvin University

Chimes

Calvin's theater minor returns by Ashley Hamons

Calvin's Service Learning Center provides spring break opportunities to work in disaster relied by Ethan Meyers

Student Senate survey reveals areas of focus for Student Senate projects by Savannah Shustack

The Rivalry: Calvin takes down Hope by Lauren Nyong

Calvin Knights men's basketball receives highest ranking in 19 season by Dillion Baymchen

Switching paths post-grad: Calvin introduces Master of Arts in Teaching program by Savannah Shustack

Moodle's redesign is much-needed and long-deserved by Jacob Westra

How Fears Of Ai In The Classroom Reflect Anxieties About Choosing Sophistry Over True Knowledge In The American Education System, David Arellano Smith

Critical Humanities

The rise of ChatGPT has educators across the United States of America worried about scholastic integrity like never before. This paper argues, however, that underneath this initial concern lies an even greater one, that the education system in the United States so closely resembles the style of teaching used by the sophists in Ancient Greece that it has ultimately failed to cultivate critical thinking skills in America’s youth, so much so that ChatGPT has become a far greater issue than it ever needed to be. The practice of ‘teaching to the test’ and the commodification of education, which is akin …

Gender In Children's Literature And Kindergartener's Responses To Gender In Interactive Read-Alouds, Vahide Yigit-Gencten, Mehmet Gultekin, Rabia Ozen Uyar, Filiz Aydemir

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

The underrepresentation of women and the perpetuation of gender stereotypes in children's literature has long been a concern. This study examined the portrayal of women in children's picture books and the potential of interactive read-alouds to promote gender equity in early childhood education, with the aim of shedding light on gender inequality. This study used critical discourse analysis, theoretically informed by Rosenblatt's transactional theory and gender schema theory, to analyse 19 books and interactive read-aloud sessions between preservice teachers and children in six preschools. The results showed that books on women's inequality are discussed in three categories: the absence of …

January 19, 2024 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Living And Learning In Radical Spaces: Trust, Affect, And Needs In The Student-Faculty Partner Dyad, Tai C. Toh, Huang H. Chng

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Advancing Professional Values Through Cross-Community Reflective Practice, Vincent Tong

Teaching and Learning Together in Higher Education

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Pandemic’S Effect On Occupational Therapy Students’ Time-Use And Occupational Engagement On Returning To In-Person Learning, Jhannell Hannah D. Ocampo, Susan Macdermott, Karen Mccarthy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The COVID-19 pandemic emotionally and physically impacted students in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs. College students lost autonomy and access to meaningful occupations and environments. As students returned to campus, they struggled to navigate and adapt to in-person occupations and how they use their time. This study uses a mixed method descriptive research design to understand how the pandemic affected occupational therapy students' time-use and occupational engagement during the transition to in-person learning. Seventy-three students completed an online survey, while 12 of those students additionally participated in a follow-up time-use diary and interview. Eighty-three percent of the participants …

Seeing Eye To Eye? Comparing Faculty And Student Perceptions Of Biomolecular Visualization Assessments, Josh T. Beckham, Daniel R. Dries, Bonnie L. Hall, Rarchel M. Mitton-Fry, Shelly Engelman, Charmita Burch, Roderico Acevedo, Pamela S. Mertz, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Swati Agrawal, Kristin M. Fox, Shane Austin, Margaret A. Franzen, Henry V. Jakubowski, Walter R. P. Novak, Rebecca Roberts, Alberto I. Roca, Kristen Procko

Chemistry Faculty Publications

While visual literacy has been identified as a foundational skill in life science education, there are many challenges in teaching and assessing biomolecular visualization skills. Among these are the lack of consensus about what constitutes competence and limited understanding of student and instructor perceptions of visual literacy tasks. In this study, we administered a set of biomolecular visualization assessments, developed as part of the BioMolViz project, to both students and instructors at multiple institutions and compared their perceptions of task difficulty. We then analyzed our findings using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative analysis was used to answer the following research questions: …

Environmental Education For Sustainability, Lucille Gertz

Educational Studies Dissertations

The climate is in crisis. Many conservation organizations identify in their mission statements the priority of motivating constituents to engage with conservation action. This priority is typically implemented by educators who design and deliver educational activities and materials. This study, designed to develop a professional pathway for environmental educators to develop programs designed to motivate adult audiences toward engagement with conservation action, addressed the question: How can environmental educators more effectively promote conservation behavior change in adult learning audiences? Three guiding research questions were: 1) To what extent are environmental educators familiar with and utilizing theoretical frameworks and research-based tools …

Be Still Method: A Mindful Intervention For Meaning-Making And Whole Person Care, Barbara O'Kelley Hock

Mindfulness Studies Theses

Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in promoting holistic health and well-being. Mindfulness supports whole person care by moving away from an allopathic approach to medicine, which treats only symptoms and disease, and considers the diverse physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of each patient. This paper examines the psychological and spiritual dimensions of whole person care in relationship to suffering and the transformative impact of integrating mindfulness practices to alleviate patient distress. Additionally, a mindfulness-based intervention supporting meaning-making and considering the needs of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—will be introduced. Responding to the need for …

Volume Cxliii, Number 9, January 12, 2024, Lawrence University

The Lawrentian

No abstract provided.

Introduction To Soil Health For High School Students, Jiyul Chang, Becki Ritter, Dean Feller, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

Growing food from soil is a basic and important work to continue supporting the growing human population. Producing more foods and producing healthy food are challenging tasks, because producing foods use soil nutrients but can deplete the soil. This can adversely affect the natural balance. If the soil is healthy, we will not only increase production but also grow healthy food. This class is a starting point for learning about Soil Health – where students will learn about how the soil functions and how it directly influences the food we grow. In summary, it is all about striking the right …

Peer Observation To Improve Teacher Self-Efficacy, Bethany R. Mather, Jeremy D. Visone

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This qualitative descriptive study explored teachers’ perceptions of a peer observation structure, collegial visits (CVs), and CVs’ connection to teacher self-efficacy (TSE). The research question was: How do teachers perceive CVs, particularly with respect to their influence on TSE? Semi-structured interviews and a focus group were utilized to collect data from 13 K–12 educators from urban and suburban public school districts in the United States. The theoretical foundation included Bandura’s social cognitive theory and the triadic reciprocal causation model. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and four themes emerged: (1) cultural drivers and effects of CVs; (2) impact …

Victor A. Mckusick, Md And The Osler Medical Service – Firm System Threads Between Baltimore And Maine: The 15th Annual Mckusick Lecture, Scot C. Remick

Journal of Maine Medical Center

No abstract provided.

Contrasting Tick Species Behaviors: A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure), Sara Benham, Shovan Dutta, Rohan Maddamsetti, Clayton Wright, Alena Anderson, David T. Gauthier, Holly D. Gaff

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Tick-borne diseases are on the rise throughout the world, and there is a need to better understand tick behavior in order to identify potential new interventions. Ticks have a complex life history and can survive months off-host. There is a lack of large-scale data on off-host tick behavior, which leaves a gap in understanding of tick biology outside of tick-host interactions. Introducing undergraduate students to authentic research early in their studies can help prepare them for independent inquiry in upper-level classes. To address the student needs and fill gaps in tick research, students in introductory biology courses recorded observations of …

Enhancing Early-Stage Xai Projects Through Designer-Led Visual Ideation Of Ai Concepts, Helen Sheridan, Dympna O'Sullivan, Emma Murphy

Books/Book chapters

The pervasive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in processing users’ data is well documented with the use of AI believed to profoundly change users’ way of life in the near future. However, there still exists a sense of mistrust among users who engage with AI systems some of this stemming from lack of transparency, including users failing to understand what AI is, what it can do and its impact on society. From this, the emerging discipline of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) has emerged, a method of designing and developing AI where a systems decisions, processes and outputs are explained and …

Open Educational Resources: A Guide For Faculty, Mark Hamilton

Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this session, we will discuss the following topics: What are Open Educational Resources (OER)? What can I do with OER? Where can I find OER? How can I create OER? How can I share my OER?

How Genre-Trained Tutors Affect Student Writing And Perceptions Of The Writing Center, Lucy Bryan Malenke, Laura K. Miller, Paul E. Mabrey Iii, Jared Featherstone

The Writing Center Journal

Writing center scholars have long debated whether writers are best served by “generalist” tutors trained in writing center pedagogy or “specialist” tutors with insider knowledge about a course’s content or discipline-specific discourse conventions. A potential compromise that has emerged is training tutors in the purposes and features of specific genres. The writing center literature showcases many different approaches to genre training. However, little empirical research, if any, has explored how tutors’ genre knowledge affects session outcomes. The present study used a mixed-methods approach to compare session outcomes for students who worked with generalist and genre-trained tutors. We analyzed pre-consultation and …

The Effects Of High School Instrumental Music Performance Anxiety On The Accelerated Recovery Of Social Anxiety, Staci Leigh Hatmaker

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative correlational study aims to examine the challenges secondary students encounter in sustaining positive mental health and how the benefits of music performance anxiety in secondary school students can aid in the accelerated recovery of social anxiety. There is a present gap in the research exploring the benefits of situational anxiety on clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders and noting that this situational anxiety is a standard expectation and volunteered for when participating in performing arts environments. The objective is to understand the therapeutic benefits of micro-dosing the brain with music performance anxiety in a controlled environment and its potential uses …

The Unprecedented Stressors Of Early Childhood Educators During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Post-Pandemic Restoration: A Case Study, Ida Mae Lewis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to describe the unprecedented stressors of early childhood educators (ECE) during the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic restoration at two early childhood education centers (ECEC) in a midwestern state. The central research question was: How did the COVID-19 pandemic’s unprecedented stressors impact ECE in the post-pandemic era? Data collection included structured interviews with open-ended questions, focus groups, and documents. The three data sources were triangulated for themes, perspectives, and interpretations, and coding was used to help gain a deep understanding of the stressors experienced by early childhood educators. The conceptual framework guiding this …

Differences In Out-Of-School Suspensions Between Black And White High School Students When Controlling For Student Factors, School Factors, And Delinquency, Steven Craig Davidson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlational study aims to determine how accurately out-of-school suspensions can be predicted from a linear combination of student delinquency, in-school delinquency, and prior suspensions for Black and White high school students. Further, a causal-comparative design is used to determine if there is a statically significant difference in out-of-school suspensions between Black and White high school students when controlling for student factors, school factors, and student delinquency factors. The study consists of five guiding theories that inform two general hypotheses. The first hypothesis, referred to as the differential selection hypothesis, is guided by critical race theory (CRT) and implicit …

Perceived Influence Of Career And Technical Student Organizations On Postsecondary Choices, Deborah K. Marshall

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore the perceptions of former career and technical student organization (CTSO) members’ postsecondary choices relative to their involvement in CTSOs in a midsize city high school. The research question that guided this qualitative study was:

How do former participants in CTSOs describe the student organization’s influence on their postsecondary choices?

Thirteen former CTSO members participated in this study through semistructured individual interviews. Four themes emerged from the data: (a) use of soft skills, (b) engagement with others, (c) participation in conferences, and (d) leadership preparation. Through data analysis, the themes …

Course Portfolio For Biochemistry 1: Structure And Metabolism (Bioc431), Didier Mena

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This benchmark portfolio encapsulates a comprehensive exploration aimed at enhancing the educational landscape of the BIOC431 course, a part of the general biochemistry course series (431 and 432). These courses are designed to offer a general introduction to the structure and function of cells in the body, along with their chemical reactions. Specifically, BIOC431 focuses on the structure, function, and metabolism of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and other major metabolic pathways. The three primary objectives addressed in this portfolio were the reevaluation of learning objectives, reassessment of assessment methods, and documentation of effective classroom strategies. Through background design, the learning objectives …