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"Spreading Stupidity: Intellectual Disability And Anti-Imperialist Resistance To Bioinformational Capitalism" In Bioinformational Philosophy And Postdigital Knowledge Ecologies, Derek R. Ford, Megha Summer Pappachen '20

Education Studies Faculty publications

We are aware that to resist in the coming age of bioinformational capitalism, we will require new knowledge ecologies. These knowledges must be socialist: able to resist the dominance of productivist and imperialist pedagogies that are saturated with capital, and now bioinformational capital’s aims. These knowledges must also be stupid: able to refuse bioinformational capital’s lust for visibility and access to the working class biology. Stupidity is able to resist primarily because it can’t be quantified, articulated, or rendered transparent. To express the importance of this refusal, we visit concepts of colonialism and disability. Disabled and colonized struggles animate the …

Ap Physics Course Enrollments: The Impact Of Middle School Algebra And Physics First, Judi G. Luepke

Dissertations (1934 -)

The position of the United States in the global STEM economy is being challenged by other countries. There is national concern that the STEM pipeline be strengthened to ensure more students pursue STEM degrees and join the STEM workforce. Although it is important to inspire youth in STEM programs, it is also important to provide all students access to the STEM gatekeeper courses of calculus, chemistry, and physics. This study determined if taking algebra in middle school and Physics First impacted AP Physics enrollments in a suburban high school. Taking physics in ninth grade, or Physics First, is part of …

As We Trudge Through: An Autoethnography Of My College Experience, Destiny R. Samuel , '22

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Reflection Types And Students’ Viewing Of Feedback In A First-Year Engineering Course Using Standards-Based Grading, Heidi A. Diefes-Dux, Laura M. Cruz Castro

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Background: Feedback is one of the most powerful and essential tools for learning and assessment, particularly when it provides the information necessary to close an existing gap between actual and reference levels of performance. The literature on feedback has primarily focused on addressing strategies for providing effective feedback rather than aspects of students’ readiness to engage with feedback. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study investigated whether reflection, as a routine pedagogical intervention grounded in self-regulated learning theory, promotes the frequency with which students view feedback. Design/Method: A quasi-experimental design was employed to examine the relationship between the use of four different reflection types, …

Interventions For At-Risk Student Success, Keanon Lewis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

At-risk students are a growing group in public education who, by definition, are not expected to meet school goals and need additional support to be successful. These students often have poor school attendance, low academic performance, high deviant behavior rates, and increased levels of substance abuse. Not only are public schools failing to prepare at-risk students for a successful future, but these students also bring their troubles to school and negatively impact other students, further hurting education and communities. This school improvement plan is designed to create a system of interventions to correct this downward trend for current at-risk students, …

The Effects Of A Flipped Classroom On Student Engagement And Motivation, Tarence Roby

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The Lone Star High School, which is part of the Frisco Independent School District located in Frisco, Texas is looking for ways to better engage and motivate students in the classroom especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way teachers teach and students learn. The problem is that Lone Star High School students lack the motivation to learn and stay engaged in the classroom setting. The purpose of this school improvement plan was to research the flipped classroom teaching model and to educate teachers through professional development about the benefits of using the flipped teaching method of instruction as …

First Portfolio: Introduction To Psychology (Psych 181), Chelsea A. Witt

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio analyzed student learning in Introduction to Psychology, Psych 181 at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. This course is often taken by first year students of various backgrounds and majors; this course is a pre-requisite for many other psychology courses. In general, the course covers basic psychological concepts in the realm of biopsychology, developmental psychology, social and personality psychology, cognitive psychology, and clinical psychology. Student enrollment for this section is capped at 200. This portfolio outlines my course goal, objectives, and assessments of those goals. There is also a reflection throughout regarding how well students feel supported and …

Benchmark Portfolio For Asci 451/851: Livestock On Range And Pasture, Fall 2021, Kacie L. Mccarthy

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The aim of this portfolio is twofold: first, the portfolio serves to provide a means for the author to reflect on and improve their approach to teaching an ACE 10 course. The Livestock on Range and Pasture course (ASCI 451/851) serves seniors and graduate students with a major and/or minor in Animal Science, Grazing Livestock Systems, Agronomy and Horticulture, or Range. Since taking over the course, the last two semesters have included students primarily from Animal Science or Agribusiness with a major or minor in Grazing Livestock Systems, respectively. This Peer Review of Teaching project evaluated student feedback from the …

What Characterizes Equitable And Effective Assessment And Instructional Practices For El Students In The Secondary Stem Classroom?, Hannah Holt , '22

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

English learners (ELs) need to be equipped with tools that can help them find success in their secondary school STEM classes, as well as for the world beyond high school. There is a delicate balance between making sure the curriculum provides all the necessary tools for later success, and also allowing students to use their linguistic and cultural diversity to enable their learning process. Thus, teachers must consider both effectiveness and equity in the design of their instruction and assessment. This literature review compiles the findings and research of educators seeking to provide better resources for content teachers with ELs …

A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences And Needs Of Disabled Students In Higher Education, Alanka Babb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was aimed to describe the experiences of twelve students with disabilities at a higher education institution in Maryland. The theory that guided this study was Luigi Taparelli d’Azeglio’s (1843) and John Rawls’s social justice theory. The social justice theory addresses the importance of equality, access, liberty, and the fair distribution of resources in society to promote social and economic development for all. A qualitative methodology was used to execute the study. Data was collected using focus groups, interviews, and letters. The data was analyzed using Moustaka’s (1994) modification of Van Kaam’s method of phenomenological …

Differences Of Attitudes And Norms Toward Plagiarism Between First- And Continuing-Generation College Students, Michael Owen Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study examines differences in attitudes and subjective norms between first- and continuing-generation college students toward plagiarism. Research studies have reported that up to 90% of college students admitted having committed plagiarism. Plagiarism harms the student who cheats, the reputation of the school, and all associated. First-generation college students experience greater challenges in their first years of college than their continuing-generation peers and may be more at risk for resorting to plagiarism. The researcher employed the Attitude Toward Plagiarism Questionnaire (Cronbach’s score of .79) to measure attitudes and norms toward plagiarism. The findings from the administration form the …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Student Engagement Experiences Of African Americans Formerly Attending Urban Public High Schools, Sohn A. Butts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the student engagement experiences of African Americans formerly attending urban public high schools in a major city in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Self-determination theory, established by Ryan and Deci (1985), is the theoretical framework for this study, and was used to understand motivation in terms of basic psychological needs satisfaction and fulfillment, and how those motivations influence human behavior. The central research question was: What were the student engagement experiences of African Americans formerly attending urban public high schools? The three research sub-questions were: (1) what instructional …

The Difference Between Grade 7 Female And Male Test Scores Based On One-To-One Technology Access: A Causal-Comparative Study, Windy Simonne Hammond

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative study sought to determine whether there was a relationship between the use of one-to-one technology and student achievement among female and male students in Grades 6 and 7 in public schools in South Carolina. This study adds to the body of literature that indicates academic gains occur from using one-to-one devices in classrooms and that these didactic technology tools are beneficial to all students. The current study analyzed the science and social studies achievement scores of 3,747 Grade 7 students, comparing females and males who had access to one-to-one technology to those who did not during the 2016–2017 …

Case Study: Exploration Into Principal's Educational Leadership Training And Their Preparation To Lead Special Education Programs In Schools, Tyriq D'Shon Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to explore the educational leadership training experiences in special education for school principals of public charter schools in Washington D.C. Guiding this study, is the theory of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), contributed by Shulman (1986), and the social constructivist theory contributed by Lev Vygotsky (1978). These theories seek to explain the relationship between what principals are expected to know and do based on leadership content knowledge and practical application, specifically in terms of leading special education programs in schools. The central question of this study is: What are the experiences of school principals …

Mentorship Relationships: A Phenomenological Study Investigating Experiences Of Secondary Teachers, Jodi Lee Wilson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to investigate teachers’ experiences in their mentoring relationships. This study investigated the experiences of 12 secondary teachers with varying levels of teaching experience from the Camel County School District in northeastern Wyoming. Kram’s (1983) original mentorship model guided this study, along with social network theory. The focus of this inquiry was to explore how teachers experience the initiation and cultivation phase of the mentorship relationship within their schools, and how these mentorship relationships positively affect the teachers involved. Data collection methods included interviews, participant-written essays, and focus group sessions to answer the …

Social Support As A Moderator To Foster Care Displacement And Foster Parent Outcomes, Latasha Denise Watts

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The recruitment and retention of licensed foster parents in the United States is a priority among child welfare professionals. There exist many factors impacting one’s decision to foster or discontinue fostering, resulting in the child welfare system’s constant struggle to recruit and retain foster parents and maintain placement stability for foster youth. Therefore, foster parent turnover and placement displacements negatively affect the wellbeing of foster youth, foster parent success outcomes, and the child welfare system. This quantitative study employed a nonexperimental correlational design using multiple regression to determine the type and quantity of foster care support services that moderates the …

Rural Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of School Climate And Student Achievement In Math And Reading: A Multiple Case Study, Matthew James Dolegowski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to investigate teachers’ and school leaders’ perceptions of how school climate affects student achievement in math and reading at rural schools. The conceptual framework guiding this study was Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory intertwined with the U.S. Department of Education’s School Climate Surveys (EDSCLS) (2019) school climate model to influence student academic achievement. Purposeful criterion sampling was used to select 13 teachers and school leaders from two rural schools in Western New York. Data was collected through a survey, teacher interviews, and school leader interviews. The data was triangulated and analyzed using …

Understanding The Quality Of Life Of Parents Whose Young Adult Children Diagnosed With Asperger's Syndrome Live In A College Residential Setting: A Phenomenological Study, Faye Mcravion

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand, as a lived experience, the parents’ quality of life (QoL) with young adult children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) residing on a college campus. In addition, this study helped understand parent experiences related to factors about transition and their QoL. For parents of adult children with ASD in a college residency setting, many stressful and challenging times were attributed to their child living outside the home, which ultimately impacted parental stress and the parents’ QoL. The theory guiding this study is the Schlossberg Transition Theory (1981), and the 4 …

Volume 31, Number 1, Spring 2022, Office Of Communications, Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University Magazine, 2018-present

VOLUME 31 | NUMBER 1 | Spring 2022

ON OUR COVER: Signed into law on June 23, 1972, Title IX has prevented sex-based discrimination and provided opportunities for women for the past 50 years. Illinois Wesleyan celebrates the anniversary, specifically through its impact on IWU’s women’s athletics program.

10 Cause for Celebration As Title IX turns 50, the Illinois Wesleyan women’s athletics community reflects on the progress that’s been made and the work that still needs to be done.

18 Made to Fly Propelled by an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to improve life in his home country of Nigeria, …

Mindset, Stereotype Threat, And The Fear Of Failure: Why Female Students Leave A Secondary High Honors Mathematics Pathway, Annabelle Merg

Theses and Dissertations

The disproportionate attrition of female students in STEM is well documented in higher education but less well understood at the secondary level. In a large, public high school in an affluent, highly educated city, the high honors mathematics pathway is the only math pathway that has not yet achieved gender parity, an implication for future educational and economic equity. Female students leave this pathway at significantly higher rates than male students, especially during and immediately after the first course. Through an explanatory, mixed methods approach, this study found that these female students are not less well prepared than their male …

Secret To Success: A Survey Of The University Of South Carolina Student Success Center, Lilian Mitchell

Senior Theses

This paper seeks to survey the practices of the Student Success Center (SSC) at the University of South Carolina (USC) and show the effectiveness of those practices. Through the analysis of the history of student success in higher education, current literature on student success, and the 2020- 2021 Blueprint for the SSC at USC, it is clear that the SSC has developed a successful and effective method of guaranteeing student success on USC’s campus. At USC, the main focus is on Supplemental Instruction, Peer Tutoring, and Academic Coaching (a.k.a. Success Consultations). By setting goals and measuring the outcome of those …

The Effect Of Explicit Vocabulary Instruction On Elementary Students’ Vocabulary Knowledge And Reading Comprehension: An Action Research Study, Tonia Bauer

Theses and Dissertations

Reading comprehension seems to be a significant challenge for rising fifth graders with limited vocabulary knowledge. A possible solution is to provide them with explicit vocabulary instruction which may positively impact their reading comprehension. This action research aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing explicit vocabulary instruction delivered through Schoology on fifth graders’ vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension at an urban elementary school in the southeastern United States. This study also sought to analyze students’ perceptions of the usefulness of the online vocabulary learning modules. A convergent mixed-method approach was applied to answer the research questions. The quantitative data (e.g., …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Athletes Sprinting With Varying Degrees Of Resistance, Michaela Ott

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Utilizing resistance methods for sprinters is a common approach to their training. In this study, six athletes from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Women’s Track and Field Team ran a series of sprints using a resistance machine to collect data regarding the change in power output, stride length, level of trunk tilt with respect to the ground, and acceleration throughout a distance of ten meters when different amounts of resistant forces were applied to the athlete. It was hypothesized that as resistance increased, power output would increase, stride length would decrease, the runners would become more horizontal resulting in a larger …

Effects Of Socioeconomic Status On Consumer Behavior And Attitudes Towards A Brand’S Image, Abbey Haymond

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This research seeks to understand more about the effects of socioeconomic background on consumer behavior and its impact on the perception of brand images. Data from people of different SES were compared to understand how they view advertisements intended for different audiences and their corresponding effects. It was conducted by sending out a confidential, voluntary survey to a convenience sample targeting 100 consumers. Consumers were asked to rate statements, on a scale of one to five, for each of the research questions to assess specific aspects of their consumer attitudes and behaviors. The high SES group has a higher average …

Effects Of Temperature And Plant And Animal Diets On Metabolic Rate In The Juvenile Red Eared Slider (Trachemys Scripta Elegans), Taylor Macdonald, Sarah Bouchard

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Specific dynamic action (SDA) is the energy expended during ingestion, digestion, absorption, and assimilation of a meal, and is influenced by meal (type, size, composition, and temperature) and environmental temperature. Understanding the effect of meal type and environmental temperature on SDA in turtles is important in describing how T. s. elegans may acclimate with changing environmental temperatures. In this study, we conducted feeding trials in which we fed juvenile T. s. elegans duckweed and mealworm diets at 25°C and 30°C. We measured the rate of oxygen consumption as a proxy for metabolic rate after feeding for four 30 minute consecutive …

High School Students’ Math And Science Motivation Profiles: Stability And Relationship With Their Stem Career Aspirations, Jiali Zheng

Theses and Dissertations

Motivation to study mathematics and science is an important influencing factor of career aspirations in STEM fields which predicts STEM major choice in college and STEM careers after graduation. Using restricted data from a nationally representative sample HSLS:09, the current study identified U.S. high school students’ motivation profiles in mathematics and science courses in 9^th and 11^th grade, examined the stability of these profiles across the two time points, and studied the association between 11^th grade motivation profiles and STEM career aspirations. Differences between male and female students in motivation profiles, profile stability and career aspirations were …

The Effects Of The Online Remediation Of Phonological Processing Deficits On Functional Reading Abilities In Students With Dyslexia, Fletcher Bowden

Theses and Dissertations

Dyslexia affects between 5% and 18% of Americans and is caused by difficulty with phonological processing. This study investigates the impact of an online intervention designed to remediate phonological processing deficits on reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension. It also investigates changes to student self-concept and parent perceptions of their children’s reading attitudes and abilities as a result of the online intervention.

Ten students participated in the intervention; assessments were administered at the beginning and at the midpoint of the treatment. Scores in Phonological Processing and Alternate Phonological Processing, as measured by the CTOPP-2, demonstrated large to very large effect sizes, …

The Effects Of Game-Based Learning On The Motivation And Engagement Of Career Technical Education Students In The High School Chemistry Classroom, Samuel Lackey

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice in this dissertation in practice focuses on the lack of motivation and engagement exhibited by career technical education (CTE) students within the traditional high school chemistry classroom as a response to textbook and teacher-centered pedagogy. This qualitative action research study utilizes a game-based learning intervention that is ultimately based upon the personal interests and sociocultural discourses of the six case study participants and analyzes its impact on both the motivation and engagement of this particular sample of rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged, CTE secondary students. During the intervention, a total of five chemistry video games were played by …

Higher Calling: A Qualitative Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Presidents Of 4-Year Colleges And Universities, Rushondra Janeé James

Theses and Dissertations

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), women are out earning men in the numbers of associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees awarded. When separated by race, Black women are the largest proportionally, representing 64 percent of bachelor’s degrees among Black women and men. Moreover, Black women account for 15 percent of all master’s degrees and 10 percent of earned doctoral degrees among all women. Given the most recent NCES statistics, the student body of degree granting institutions includes a significant number of Black women students. Conversely, about 9 percent of all college presidents and 3 percent of full-time …

The Assessment Of College Female Athletes’ Perspectives On Their Coaches’ Discussion On Food Relationships And Body Positivity, Maggie E. Vernon

Selected Honors Theses

This study examined the differences in how often college female athletes’ coaches discussed food relationships and body positivity with how often the college female athletes wished their coaches discussed food relationships and body positivity. I hypothesized that the coaches’ discussions of food relationships and body positivity did not meet the expectations of the college female athletes. Twenty-six participants from Southeastern University in a population of female athletes completed an online survey that produced quantitative data to determine the discrepancy. The survey consisted of three main topics of eating habits, eating disorders, body positivity, and their relationship building with their coaches. …