Digital Commons Network^™

Spatial Thinking In K-2: Geography, Reading, And Math, Phil Gersmehl

The Great Lakes Social Studies Journal

None

Development Of Charter School Teacher Development Inventory, John M. Murray

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

The aim of the present study was to develop and examine the initial psychometrics of an instrument, the Charter School Teacher Development Inventory (CSTDI), designed to measure the professional learning opportunities available in U.S. charter schools. Items on the CSTDI were derived from a review of relevant literature and were intended to gather information on how frequently U.S. charter schools employ traditional professional development methods and the five areas of more effective professional development (content focus, active learning, collaboration, coherence, and duration). The final form of the CSTDI was sent electronically to 6322 charter school administrators and 2428 returned completed …

Navigating An Undergraduate Teacher Licensure Program As A Non-Traditional Student, Natalie R. Andzik, Gregory Conderman, David A. Walker, Kristen Koehler

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Nearly eight million “non-traditional” students face adversity beyond financial instability, childcare, or full or part-time work when seeking teacher licensure. They must manage logging clinical hours in schools far from home, feel isolated in cohorts of 18– 20-year-olds, and sometimes lack support and flexibility from their professors and advisors. We surveyed non-traditional, undergraduate, teacher licensure candidates at a large midwestern university to better understand current attending students' demographics and determine if any relationship(s) existed between variables related to logistical decisions, supports received, or barriers faced/encountered. We summarized findings from 53 participants and offered suggestions to university administrators, professors, and staff …

Fp-22-18 Marital Status Variation In Religiosity Among Older Women And Men, Francesca A. Marino, Kagan A. Mellencamp

National Center for Family and Marriage Research Family Profiles

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Paper-Based And Computer-Based Formats For Assessing Student Achievement, Meghan B. Scrimgeour, Haigen H. Huang

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Given the growing trend toward using technology to assess student learning, this investigation examined test mode comparability of student achievement scores obtained from paper-pencil and computerized assessments of statewide End-of-Course and End- of-Grade examinations in the subject areas of high school biology and eighth-grade English Language Arts and math. Propensity score matching was used to generate comparable groups of students who were assessed using paper-pencil or computer-based formats. T-tests and generalized linear models were further used to examine test mode effect. Analyses revealed a small test mode effect for all three subjects such that students using the paper-based format achieved …

"Safe And Sound": Anti-Racist Curriculum Models For The Early Years Classroom, Terry Husband, Kerry-Ann Escayg

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Racism continues to be an ongoing and pervasive problem within the United States. Nevertheless, many early childhood teachers remain reluctant to teach children about racism and racial justice in their classrooms. In this paper, we offer an anti-racist curriculum model for helping children identify, resist, and respond to racism in constructive ways. We discuss rationales behind teaching children about race and racism. Next, we describe broad goals for an early childhood anti-racist curriculum. We conclude with practical examples that early childhood teachers might draw from as they develop and implement activities aimed at helping children work toward racial justice.

A Novel Approach To Social Justice Education, Jennifer Banas, Sara Gershon

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Singular efforts in PK-12 settings to instill a social justice mindset will not achieve the same outcomes as social justice education infused throughout content area instruction. In collaboration with 10th-grade teachers, we developed and implemented a biblioguidance curriculum to develop students’ social justice and content area competency. Evaluation findings from the pilot implementation indicate there was a significant impact on some social justice competencies and all targeted content area competencies. Also, students appeared to recognize the benefits of a biblioguidance approach. In light of the outcomes, we celebrate the curriculum's successes and offer suggestions for ongoing improvement.

Why Anti-Racist Education Must Include Asian American History, Leanne Kang

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This is a commentary on why anti-racist education must include Asian American history, especially in the wake of increased hate crimes against Asians and anti-Asian bullying in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first half of the paper discusses the issue and how the absence of Asian American history in K-12 and teacher preparation programs plays a role in perpetuating racism against Asians in the U.S. The second half of the paper presents how I have incorporated Asian American history into a social foundations of education course through two legal cases filed by Chinese Americans: Tape v. Hurley (1885) and …

Achievement Goal Orientation As A Predictor Of High-Impact Practice Participation For Postsecondary Students, Angie L. Miller

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Achievement goal orientation has been studied within education for decades, and previous research has linked the construct to student achievement and engagement. This study uses the 2x2 achievement goal orientation as a framework for exploring high-impact practice (HIP) participation for approximately 8,000 college students across 15 different institutions participating in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). Through a series of binary logistic regression analyses, results suggest students who employ a mastery-approach orientation are more likely to partake in a variety of beneficial HIPs, such as learning communities, research with faculty, service learning, study abroad, culminating experience, and formal leadership …

Improving Research Practices Through User Insights Of Qualitative And Mixed Methods Data Analysis Technology, Michelle Salmona, Dan Kaczynski, Eli Lieber

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

This study examined current social science qualitative and mixed methods research practices in the adoption and use of data management and analysis technology with three questions: 1) who uses technology for qualitative and mixed methods data analysis? 2) what can be learned by knowing who these researchers are? and, 3) how might current perceptions inform improvements in future research practices? A mixed methods design encompassed a two-stage process for data gathering. A select group of international experts in the use of technology were recruited. Feedback from the experts informed the refinement of a survey instrument which was distributed to participants …

Literacy Experts As Classroom Teachers, Theresa Boehm Boehm Marsicek

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

Teacher expertise can influence student experiences and achievement. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences, practices, and beliefs of early elementary classroom teachers who have supplementary literacy certification in order to determine their shared characteristics and changes to their practice after earning the literacy license. Characteristics of high quality literacy teachers have been identified in previous research, however a review of the current literature revealed a lack of information regarding classroom teachers with additional literacy certification. Understanding how they utilize this expertise could have implications for educational policy. Data was collected for this phenomenological study through semi-structured …

Examining The Influence Of Covid-19 On Elementary Mathematics Standardized Test Scores In A Rural Ohio School District, Dara Bright, Yiyun "Kate" Fan, Chris Fornaro, Kristin L. K. Koskey, Toni A. May, Jonathan D. Bostic, Dolores Swineford

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

In the United States, national and state standardized assessments have become a metric for measuring student learning and high-quality learning environments. As the COVID-19 pandemic offered a multitude of learning modalities (e.g., hybrid, socially distanced face-to-face instruction, virtual environment), it becomes critical to examine how this learning disruption influenced elementary mathematic performance. This study tested for differences in mathematics performance on fourth grade standardized tests before and during COVID-19 in a case study of a rural Ohio school district using the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) mathematics test. A two-way ANOVA showed that fourth- grade MAP mathematics scores were statistically …

Participation And Perceptions Of Resistance Training In Former Female High School Athletes, Craig Heuring

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Resistance training (RT) has been shown to better prepare athletes for the physical demands of their sport. However, former female high school athletes’ participation rates and perceptions of RT are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify key factors and themes influencing participation and perceptions of RT in this population. Former female high school athletes (n=73) between the ages of 18-24 years old completed an electronic questionnaire-based survey. The survey included a RT questionnaire and background questions regarding each participant’s high school athletic environment. We examined responses to identify how high school athletic environments may influence …

Establishing Safe Thresholds To Improve Exercise Capacity In Collegiate Athletes With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Ibd): A Critically Appraised Topic, Emily C. Roberts

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

Clinical Scenario: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) can present several challenges to athletic participation due to unpredictable disease activity and uncontrollable systemic symptoms that severely impact daily activities, and limit exercise/sports participation. Limited studies and a lack of standard guidelines for physical activity (PA) and exercise are additional barriers for patients. Limited sources have determined that exercise interventions of low-to-moderate intensity are safe and feasible for IBD patients. In theory, such interventions could promote improvements in exercise capacity and overall well-being. Focused Clinical Question: Is there evidence to suggest that a baseline of established safe exercise-intensities promote improvements in exercise capacity …

The Effects Of A Mental Skills Training Program On Rotc Cadets’ Physical Fitness Scores, Mackenzie Piatka

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to implement a mental skills training (MST) intervention to an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets’ regular physical fitness routine and examine effects and relationships with the cadets’ physical fitness scores and mood states. Male (n = 22) and female (n =9) cadets from the Army ROTC branch at Bowling Green State University completed a series of questionnaires at two time points, pre-mental skills training and post-mental skills training. The pre- and post-intervention questionnaires included: demographic and informational surveys, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Test of Performance Strategies

2- Short …

Confidently Successful! Cultivating Confidence In College Athletes, Claire Ferrell

Master of Education in Applied Human Development Graduate Projects

During competition, athletes are expected to perform well and have confidence in their abilities. Sport confidence represents an athlete’s belief in their abilities to perform successfully in sport (Vealey & Chase, 2008). Consistently, research reveals a positive relationship between sport confidence and performance (Vealey & Chase, 2008). Benefits of confidence in college athletes include low anxiety, a focus on goals, experiencing flow, and successful performance (Machida et al., 2012; Rintaugu et al., 2018). The sport confidence model (Vealey & Chase, 2008), that describes sources of athlete confidence, provides the framework for Confidently Successful! This program is developed so that a …

Mindfulness In Early Childhood Education, Madalyn L. Coss

Honors Projects

The following work identifies the need for mindfulness in early childhood education. It explains what mindfulness is, what the benefits of it are, and how it can be used in early childhood classrooms. A podcast episode is included with the intent of it being used to inform educators on the subject.

Effect Of Music On Rating Of Perceived Exertion And Duration Of Physical Activity, Mia Hines

Honors Projects

This study addresses the relationship between listening to music and physical activity.

New Word Learning In Spanish/English Bilingual Children, Haley Wemple

Honors Projects

This study aims to examine how Spanish-speaking ELLs learn new words and their features within a storytelling context. Specifically, the aim is it learn how ELLs build their vocabularies by creating taxonomic (i.e. categorical) and thematic relations between novel and known words.

Stress And Burnout Among Undergraduate Music Education Majors: An Examination Of Trends, Influences, And Coping Mechanisms, Emily Carroll

Honors Projects

Previous research points to an increase in undergraduate music education major stress. A stress questionnaire was sent to three Midwest collegiate institutions: one was a mid-sized liberal arts school, another was a conservatory, and the last was a large state institution. Findings confirm concerning elevated levels of stress among undergraduate music education majors. The levels of stress appear to be a universal issue in this particular degree program, implying there is a need for change to better student wellness.

Addressing Audience Engagement Through Creative Performance Techniques, Lindsay Osterholt

Honors Projects

This project explores how utilizing creative performance techniques might affect change in the sociology that occurs within a Western art music performance. Creative performance techniques can include any behaviors or elements not typical to a Western art music performance. In the context of a senior vocal recital, this project aimed to see how audience members might respond to and engage with added creative elements.

Staying One Step Ahead Of The Growing Electric Vehicle Market, Russell Molter

Honors Projects

Electric vehicles are becoming more popular among drivers as they become more affordable and as people become more aware of the benefits of electric vehicles. Because of this, the demand for electric car chargers is quickly increasing across the country. This includes BGSU’s campus. Right now, there are seven chargers available on campus, but with the trends in how the electric vehicle market is growing, BGSU should create a plan to install many more chargers to meet the increasing demand for charging stations. This strategy will allow BGSU to keep up with the growing electric vehicle market, which will additionally …

How Can Stem Retention Rates At Bgsu Be Increased Both In And Out Of The Classroom?, Josalyn A. Coffee

Honors Projects

Previous research in STEM student retention rates showed a gap in knowledge regarding why this group of student experience higher rates of burnout than other groups of students. This study investigated the barriers STEM students at BGSU experienced. A survey was sent out to STEM and non-STEM students alike that asked questions regarding student’s personal history before attending BGSU, their course experiences at BGSU, and the levels of support they have outside of BGSU. The survey data showed that there was little difference in the rates that students switch majors solely based on being in the STEM field. The data …

Serving Our Students: Evidence-Based Sex Education Policies And Practices Needed In Ohio, Lily Mckenzie Rosenberg

Honors Projects

Ohio has very minimal state-wide sex education laws, requiring only venereal disease education that has many similarities with abstinence-only education. Abstinence-only education has been shown to be ineffective in delaying first sex and lowering teen STDs, pregnancy, and birth rates. When students receive ineffective (or no) sex education it can impact them in many ways, leaving them unprepared for sexual lives as adults. To analyze the state of sex education in Ohio, this paper will look at sex education throughout Ohio both in law and in practice. I will then explore the impact of these minimal sex education laws on …

Changes In Body Image, Eating Behaviors, And Exercise During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Megan Gressley

Honors Projects

The Covid-19 pandemic transformed many different aspects of life as many individuals were sent home from school or work and were confined within their homes. Within restricted life, individuals experienced changes in their social lives, eating habits, and day-to-day routine. Within this research study I chose to examine how individuals' lives changed directly from the year before the Covid-19 pandemic to the first year of domestic shutdown. A sample of BGSU undergraduate students responded to a survey questioning them on their behaviors, feelings, and attitudes among these time periods. Results showed that individuals experienced significantly more disordered eating within the …

Social-Emotional Learning For The Classroom And Family Contexts, Courtney Bockbrader

Honors Projects

This project focused on developing a social-emotional learning workbook for use in the classroom and family contexts. Based on a review of relevant literature, emotional recognition, self-regulation, and social skills were identified as the most beneficial social-emotional skills for the personal and academic success of elementary-aged students. The resulting workbook included eleven activities aimed at promoting these three skills. Each activity was designed to be implemented in the classroom setting, with associated take-home activities for use in the home with the parent/guardian(s) for increased generalization of skills. Accessibility for schools of all income levels was taken into account, as activities …

Teacher Education Programs Of Top Pisa Scoring Countries, Stephanie Kafer

Honors Projects

This research paper aims to investigate the teacher education programs of four different countries that have consistently scored high on the international Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test. This project intends to answer two questions: What locations consistently perform high on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test? What do the teacher training programs look like for these locations and are there commonalities between programs of different locations? The first question is answered using statistics of PISA scores from the past twenty years and from those statistics, the top four countries that this paper focuses on are Finland, …

The Therapeutic And Psychosocial Effects Of Pets On Individuals In The Usa, Ashley Lytle

Honors Projects

The prevalence of animals in people's lives is ever growing. Many pet owners see their pets as members of their family. Animals can improve one's well being both physically and mentally. They have been used in therapeutic practices, both in one-on-one sessions and group settings. While there are several benefits to owning a pet, they can cause barriers to accessing healthcare and housing, and can be a deterrent to leaving abusive situations. The two roles pets play in people's lives creates a dynamic that is prevalent to several professional fields including social work. Social workers have already begun to acknowledge …

Finding A Home Through The Screen: A Glimpse Into Student Experiences In A World Of Remote Admissions Processes, Megan Carmen

Honors Projects

The college search process is an important time in the life of any student, and feeling a sense of belonging and inclusion through the admissions process is vital to ensuring student success in higher education. With COVID-19 forcing all admissions communications online, student connections were changed and student’s perception of belonging was altered. This confidential survey project used demographic, quantitative, and open-ended questions to understand student perceptions of belonging and inclusion during the online admissions process. Of 750 students contacted, 57 students responded to the demographic questions, 50 to the quantitative questions, and 17 students left in-depth responses about their …

Improving Academic Success: Creating A College Planning Resource For Students, Hannah Grunden

Honors Projects

Academic performance of students is a major concern for colleges, especially with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Research has shown that active involvement, the development of self-regulation skills, and improved mental health all have a considerable impact on college students’ academic success. Colleges like Bowling Green State University need to consider how they can use these factors and leverage resources to improve student performance. In this project, a solution is proposed in the form of a college/personal planner which is directly based off research on early academic success. While further, more specific research is needed to fully understand the issue and …