Digital Commons Network^™

Zooming Into Success: Collaborative Virtual Spaces For Dissertation Research And Pedagogy In Higher Education, Stephanie L. Brooke

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Dissertation students face numerous challenges, including narrowing down research topics, managing scholarly writing, and overcoming writer’s block. This article explores the creation and piloting of collaborative virtual spaces designed to support dissertation mentees in their academic journey. Through this project, three distinct virtual spaces emerged, each addressing specific student needs: emotional support, academic writing, and research alignment. The development of these spaces was influenced by theory as well as workplace cultural initiatives in an online program for dissertation mentoring. Creating these collaborative virtual spaces based on student needs led to transformative best practices in virtual learning environments. This method provides …

Examining The Impact Of Individual And Group Piano Instruction On Students’ Learning: Teachers’ Perceptions, Pavithra Madapatha

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Group and individual piano instruction are the most common piano teaching approaches in Sri Lanka. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these techniques help to improve students’ learning skills. The study was based on qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews from five (05) piano teachers. Teachers were selected using the purposive sampling technique. Thematic analysis method was used to analyse the interview data. The themes included are: (1) advantages and disadvantages of individual piano teaching; (2) benefits of group piano teaching; (3) challenges of group piano teaching; (4) teaching approaches and strategies used under each method …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Progress, Successes, And Challenges Among Indiana Recipients As Part Of A National Initiative To Reduce Covid-19–Related Health Disparities, Marla Winters, Lily Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding to states as part of the CDC Disparities Grant initiative. The aim of the funding was to reduce chronic disease and COVID-19–related health disparities among vulnerable communities through four unique strategies. Funding was awarded to the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) to begin an Indiana chapter of this initiative, called Indiana Healthy Opportunities for People Everywhere (I-HOPE). From 2021 to 2023, the IDOH provided I-HOPE funding to local communities (subgrantees) to support the design and implementation of programs to improve community health. For example, …

Improving Medication Insecurity Through Community Events, Lauren Soohoo, Theresa Blanke, Faria Chaudhry, Courtney O'Keefe, Rakhi Karwa, Jasmine Gonzalvo, Gicella Garcia, Carlyn Kimiecik, Adriana Gardner, Yejin Seo

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

In the United States, 58 million Americans have difficulty paying for prescription medications due to lack of insurance, high prescription costs, unstable employment, and competing financial demands. High prescription costs reportedly contribute to medication nonadherence for 60% of patients. Medication nonadherence accounts for 30% of hospital admissions, further exacerbating the detrimental impact of medication insecurity such as worsening patient outcomes, quality of life, readmissions rates, and overall health care expenditure.

To understand the prevalence and address medication insecurity among the communities served by the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation (CHEQI), a survey was developed and disseminated via a …

A Reflection On What Pharmacists In Different Countries Can Learn From One Another, Aaryaman Khurana, Patricia Darbishire

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

What would be the first words that come to mind if you were asked about the US health care system? I asked that question to several of my friends and pharmacy peers and received mixed responses such as “expensive,” “confusing,” “hard to navigate,” and “best in the world.” This was not surprising considering the many options and the varying quality of medical procedures, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals available. I wondered how responses might differ if I posed the same question about their health care to those in a third-world country. So, I asked the same question of friends and family …

Changing Minds And Lives: A Substance Use Awareness Campaign, Alyssa Collins, Claire Wolfer-Jenkins, Rachel Isaac

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Introduction: In 2024, 48.4million Americans experienced a substance use disorder (SUD),with opioid use disorder representing a significant concern. In 2024, an estimated 8 million individuals misused opioids, contributing to 54,743 fatal overdoses. College students are particularly vulnerable, with 20% reporting illicit substance use within the past month, highlighting the urgent need for focused interventions in this population.

Project Overview: Boiler Substance Awareness Network (BSAN) is a campus initiative funded by the Lead Forward Fellowship grant. BSAN educates the Purdue community about SUD to reduce stigma and foster a recovery-friendly environment. The focus is on two objectives: preparing students to respond …

Inaccessibility Harms: Exploring The Impact Of Inaccessible Campus Organizations On Disabled Students, Francis W. Q. Corvin, Natalie G. Horgan

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

There are 3.5 million Disabled college students in the United States, with 4,671 utilizing disability services at Purdue University. Nationwide, 8–14% of students in higher education are Disabled, indicating a substantial number of students whose needs should be prioritized and supported. Inaccessibility impacts the way Disabled college students are able to engage with the college experience. Inaccessible classes, restrooms, clubs, job fairs, and campuses create significant barriers thatthat extend far beyond the classroom. Disabled students face challenges in securing scholarships, finding employment, graduating on time, and achieving long-term socioeconomic stability. Recognizing these barriers, HonorServes, a community service student committee at …

Homeowner Well-Being And Community Livability, Leo Malachowski, Bridget Heindl

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Our project focuses on revitalizing the community by designing homes that reflect each homeowner’s unique preferences, fostering a sense of ownership and emotional well-being. In collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Lafayette and guided by Ruut Veenhoven’s quality-of-life framework, we aim to create affordable housing initiatives that meet both financial and personal needs while strengthening community connections. Our work with the first homeowner, Carla, demonstrates how personalized housing enhances safety and belonging, transforming a house into a home that inspires pride.

As researchers, participating in this project has broadened our perspective beyond Purdue, especially through meaningful connections with homeowners such …

Empowering Caregivers Through Informal Stem Counterspaces: A Reflective Analysis Of Parental Workshops, Renee Gibert, Desmine Robinson, Virgina Booth Womack

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Students’ academic success particularly in mathematics, where early mastery lays the foundation for critical thinking and problem-solving skills, can be directly tied to caregiver engagement (Jeynes, 2012; Epstein, 2018). Algebra by 7th Grade (Ab7G) at Purdue is a Saturday informal STEM counterspace that provides math tutoring and engineering-focused projects to participants in grades 1–10. Students are mentored by Purdue graduate and graduate students. The mentors facilitate mentoring, tutoring, and engineering projects. Ab7G is a hybrid format that meets for six sessions per academic semester on Saturdays. Duke Energy and Chevron provide funding for Ab7G, ensuring accessibility at no cost to …

Editorial, Elizabeth B. Brite

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Editorial for PJSL 12 (2025).

Applied Research In Field Crop Pathology For Indiana, 2023, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Sujoung Shim

Purdue University Press Books

Applied Research in Field Crop Pathology for Indiana, 2023 serves as a summary of the applied field crop pathology research trials conducted in 2023 under the direction of the Purdue Field Crop Pathology program in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University. In Indiana, there are more than 57,600 farms, 16,000 crop producers, and 900 certified crop advisers, Extension educators, and crop-protection industry representatives who manage more than 11.4 million crop-production acres with a total value of $6.3 billion annually. There are more than twenty diseases affecting corn, soybeans, and wheat that may decrease crop production and …

Clear And Concise: Technical Writing For Biological Engineers, Abigail S. Engelberth

Purdue University Press Books

Clear and Concise: Technical Writing for Biological Engineers is a practical guide designed to help students and early career engineers communicate their work with clarity and confidence. Drawing on years of teaching experience, Abigail S. Engelberth breaks down the essentials of technical writing into approachable steps, showing readers how to organize ideas, present data effectively, and write reports that meet professional standards.

Rather than overwhelming readers with theory, the book focuses on real-world application. It includes examples, checklists, and strategies for common engineering documents including formal and memo-style lab reports. Special attention is given to visuals, formatting, and the role …

Mechanized Tube Well Installation, Robert M. Stwalley Iii, Grace L. Baldwin Kan-Uge, Roger Tormoehlen

Purdue University Press Books

Mechanized Tube Well Installation provides detailed information on the design development of a mechanized means to install shallow tube wells using a hydraulic driver attached to a small vehicle. This book explores the creation of this technique through the merging of available components, selection of the components, testing of the assembly, and the driving of wells. It also provides comprehensive coverage of state-of-the-art engineering, technology, and best practices as they relate to driving water wells for human consumption, animal care, and irrigation. Mechanized Tube Well Installation is well-aligned with collegiate humanitarian aid, environmental and natural resources engineering, and agricultural equipment …

Applied Research For Corn Production In Indiana, 2022, Daniel Quinn

Purdue University Press Books

The 2022 edition of Applied Research for Corn Production in Indiana offers accessible, research-based tips for farmers who want to improve corn production practices by using applied field-research trials. Daniel Quinn and the Purdue University Corn Agronomy team reveal practical ways to boost yields, reduce costs, and improve sustainability on the farm. Their findings are derived from applied research trials across the state and relate to important topics such as planting practices, fertilizer use, crop nutrition, cover crops, and new technologies. Applied Research for Corn Production in Indiana distills complex research into clear insights and supplies corn producers with effective …

Teaching Integrated Stem In Middle School, S. Selcen Guzey

Purdue University Press Books

Teaching Integrated STEM in Middle School is a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers who are committed to furthering integrated STEM education. Through a review of the literature on the topic, the volume offers a clear understanding of the impact of integrated STEM education on instructors’ teaching practices and student outcomes. The book presents a framework and instructional guide that educators can utilize to develop new curricular materials. Two sample units—focused on designing a two-stage water filter and formulating sunscreen—provide step-by-step guidance for lesson implementation and offer strategies for assisting students as they use engineering models to devise design …

Ancient Wisdoms For Modern Crises: Learning From Laozi’S “Daodejing”, Steve Hallett

Purdue University Press Books

We live in a time of abundance and comfort for some, scarcity and hardship for others—a period that seems to have all of us teetering on the brink. Certainly, there is no lack of modern crises, but do we possess the wisdom to overcome them, and where might we seek that wisdom? Ancient Wisdoms for Modern Crises: Learning From Laozi’s “Daodejing[JR1] [ED2] [NN3] ” looks to the Daodejing, a text written during the late Zhou Dynasty (600–400 BCE), for guidance. One of the core treatises of Eastern philosophy, it advocates humility, simplicity, and sustainable living. As both a …

Advanced Design Topics For The Engineering Of Agricultural And Mechanical Equipment, Robert M. Stwalley Iii, Roger Tormoehlen

Purdue University Press Books

Off-road equipment designs contend with some unusual challenges and environmental conditions that are not seen by standard on-road vehicles. Advanced Design Topics for the Engineering of Agricultural and Mechanical Equipment offers design topic reviews related to areas that need special consideration within off-road applications. CAN-BUS systems, soil compaction, composite bearings, field welding practices, and weld strength in bending applications are examined, among other subjects. Providing comprehensive coverage of these matters with the current state-of-the-art technologies and best practices as they relate to equipment design for the agricultural, construction, forestry, and mining industries, this book is well-aligned with collegiate advanced agricultural …

Protocols In Root-Microbe Interactions, Anjali S. Iyer-Pascuzzi

Purdue University Press Books

Protocols in Root-Microbe Interactions describes laboratory protocols that have been developed and optimized for scientists working in root-microbe interactions, specifically for those wanting to quantify immune responses in plant roots. The experiments are focused on cellular to whole-root scale and include molecular biology, biochemistry, and histology techniques. Written in an easy-to-understand fashion that is suitable for both early career and experienced scientists, the protocols were optimized for tomato roots but can easily be adapted to roots of other plant species, or if needed, to leaves. The book includes information on quantifying pattern-triggered immune (PTI) responses in plant roots and covers …

Market Signals From Online Behavior, Nicole J. Olynk Widmar, Michael L. Smith, Erin Robinson

Purdue University Press Books

Market Signals From Online Behavior asks, What do social media trends, Google searches, and online chatter reveal about consumer behavior? It also poses the question, How can we interpret these signals without losing sight of the people behind the posts? This book examines the digital traces left by consumers and explores how these signals intersect with food, agriculture, retail, and beyond.

Drawing from real-time data and social-listening analysis, Market Signals connects the dots between what is trending online and what it means for markets in the real world. Whether it is the rise of plant-based eating, changing holiday shopping norms, …

Horse Evaluation: A Multibreed Text For Competitive Youth Equine Judges, Colleen M. Brady

Purdue University Press Books

Horse judging is one of the most popular activities in 4-H, FFA, and other youth-development organizations. Judging teaches youth how to both critically analyze animals based on a specific set of criteria and justify their decisions through oral reasoning. This book includes information on examining a wide variety of breeds—from quarter horses and Arabians to Saddlebreds, Drafts, and Miniatures—and covers a range of disciplines. Both halter and performance classes are explored, and the rules and regulations used to govern contests at the national level are provided. Example sets of reasons are supplied for most classes, as are lists of potential …

Reviving The Skies: The Impact Of Government Focus On Aviation Industry Growth In The Post-Covid World, Sumeet Hassan Anwar, Humna Asad

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

Travel restrictions and border closures during the COVID-19 epidemic drastically reduced air traffic that affected the aviation sector. With an eye toward regional variances and public-private alliances, this essay investigates how government policies, financial interventions, and regulatory frameworks assisted recovery attempts. The essay also looks at how network-based resilience models lower vulnerabilities and improve operational connection, thus guaranteeing future disturbance readiness. Autoregressive integrated moving average models, among other forecasting instruments, help to forecast aviation demand and match recovery plans with changing market dynamics. By means of comparative policy analysis and network theory, this study reveals best practices from Asia, Europe, …

The Evolution Of Mro Outsourcing: Global Trends, Regulatory Challenges, And Strategic Considerations In Aviation Maintenance, David C. Ison

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

The maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry plays a critical role in ensuring the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the global aviation sector. As airlines seek to reduce costs, optimize operations, and access specialized expertise, MRO outsourcing has become an increasingly prevalent strategy. This essay examines the key drivers of MRO outsourcing, including cost reduction, access to advanced technologies, and the focus on core competencies. The essay also explores emerging trends such as the rise of new MRO hubs in Asia and the Middle East, the integration of predictive maintenance and artificial intelligence, and the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability. …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Facilitating Design Talks With Young Learners, Chelsea J. Andrews, Jessica Watkins, Kristen B. Wendell, Rae Woodcock, Vera Gor, Naina Sood Fox, Molly Malinowski, Rachel Bandi, Shannon Rausch

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

With intentional teacher facilitation, whole-class conversations can help students refine their engineering reasoning, consider new ideas, and make novel connections between different ways of defining or solving a problem. These conversations can also help students expand their engineering thinking to include perspectives of care and socioethical deliberations. A team of classroom teachers and university researchers has been enacting and studying whole-class engineering design conversations—Design Talks—in first through sixth grade classrooms. We organize Design Talks in five genres: problem-scoping talks, idea generation talks, design-in- progress talks, design synthesis talks, and impact talks. After five years of planning, implementing, and analyzing recorded …

Stocks And Shocks: Assessing The Relative Roles Of Public And Private Inventories In Buffering Rice Price Volatility In The Philippines, Bernhard Dalheimer, Kenneth Foster, Gerald E. Shively, Valerien O. Pede, Dela-Dem Doe Fiankor, Jacob Ricker-Gilbert, Pratibha Bist

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Public stockholding of food is politically contentious and economically challenging. Although private stocks are generally understood to be more efficient than public stocks at providing a reliable buffer against production shortfalls, private stocks often fail to stabilize prices during extreme food market shocks. Moreover, maintaining large public stock programs in which the government acts as the buyer or seller of last resort, can be very costly. This paper analyzes the recent historical success of public and private rice stocks in stabilizing domestic rice prices in the Philippines, the world’s largest net importer of rice. Relying on competitive storage theory and …

Fostering Psychological Ownership And Self-Authorship In Higher Education: Pathways To Student Engagement, Growth And Knowledge Creation, Noora Heino, Markku Ikävalko, Anssi Tarkiainen, Terhi Virkki-Hatakka

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This study explores the intersection of psychological ownership (PO) and self-authorship (SA) in the context of university students’ project-based learning. It examines how students develop a sense of ownership over their course projects, ideas, and knowledge they create, and how this engagement shapes their learning, identity, and sense of self. The findings highlight the role of control and perceived idea quality in fostering psychological ownership, as well as the importance of intimate knowledge and perceived object quality in supporting self-authorship. The study underscores that when students feel connected to their ideas, their motivation, persistence, and engagement increase, especially in creativity-driven …

Using Generative Ai In Computer Science Internships; Implications For Career Readiness, Mitra Panahi, Lucas G. Zangari, Gaurang Kamat, Olufisayo Omojokun, Alejandra J. Magana, Ricardo Eiris, Pedro Guillermo Feijóo-García

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This empirical study delves into how computer science interns use generative AI tools during their internship experience and shows how these technologies connect academic training with practical professional practice. Grounded on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), we examine how GenAI usage influences students' self-efficacy and internship outcomes during internships in fast-changing tech environments. Data were gathered via mixed-methods surveys from 40 undergraduate computer science students at a large Southeastern U.S. public university, with internship experience and also worked as teaching assistants. Findings show that while GenAI got the green light in 65.8% of internships, its use was cautious and infrequent …

Optimal Anchor Placement For Cable-Driven Parallel Robots On Curved Surfaces, Lei Jin, Dongming Gan, Tarek Taha

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Cable-Driven Parallel Robots (CDPRs) are increasingly used for inspection and maintenance on large curved surfaces where traditional planar anchor layouts fail. This work introduces a unified geodesic–optimization framework for determining optimal anchor configurations that ensure both static feasibility and dynamic efficiency. The method first models curved surfaces using local tangent-plane coordinates to compute cable directions accurately, then evaluates anchor candidates through linear-programming tension optimization. Dynamic simulations along representative motion paths—spiral, circular, and zigzag—quantify total cable energy for ranking feasible configurations. Results show that anchors raised above mid-latitude and symmetrically distributed around the workspace minimize both peak tension and total energy …

Emotion Driven Rumor Detection And Analysis: An Llm(Large Language Model) Augmented Approach, Chinelo Njoku, Yingjie Chen

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

Misinformation and rumors during public health crises significantly affect lives and increases mistrust in government and public health institutions. The circulation and amplification of rumors often worsen disease transmission and impede effective interventions. Historically, rumor spread has been a recurring issue in public health emergencies. For example, during the Ebola outbreak, misinformation about the virus and its treatment created deep mistrust of health workers. Similarly, in the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread misinformation fueled public panic and vaccine hesitancy. Previous research has primarily identified social media as a channel for rumor dissemination and focused on automatic rumor detection for fact-checking using binary …

Assessing Disparities In Breast Cancer Incidence Across Indiana Counties With Geographic Information System And Machine Learning, Shuning Yin, Gaurav Nanda, Raji Sundararajan

Purdue Polytechnic Graduate Student Poster Symposium

This study investigates potential spatial variations in breast cancer incidence across Indiana counties using geographic information systems (GIS) and machine learning (ML) techniques. Breast cancer continues to be a major public health challenge influenced by unequal access to healthcare, socioeconomic disparities, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures. By integrating GIS and ML, this research identifies key factors and potential spatial patterns associated with breast cancer incidence across Indiana. The statistical analysis produced a highly significant result (p < 0.001), indicating that the independent variables collectively contribute to explaining breast cancer incidence, though the model’s explanatory power was moderate (adjusted R² = 0.25). Among all variables, distance to the nearest hospital and tobacco expenditure showed significant associations with breast cancer incidence, while other factors such as health insurance coverage were not statistically meaningful. The Koenker (BP) statistic was 5.141, indicating spatial stability and confirming that no distinct spatial variation was observed across counties. Findings show that counties farther from healthcare facilities did not necessarily have higher breast cancer incidence, and higher incidence in urban areas, such as Indianapolis, Lake, and Porter Counties, likely reflect better access to screening and diagnosis rather than higher disease occurrence. These results emphasize the importance of incorporating additional variables, including genetic predispositions, racial and ethnic disparities, and environmental conditions, in future studies. Expanding the analytical framework could enhance understanding of spatial patterns and guide efforts to improve healthcare access and cancer prevention in Indiana.

Development And Initial Validation Of The Comprehensive Ai Integration Readiness Survey (Caiirs), Richard D. Amoako, Jennifer A. Morrow

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in higher education, improving learning and optimizing administrative operations. However, the adoption and integration of AI in learning environments have received limited research attention until recently. Consequently, this research aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess readiness and preparedness among higher education faculty members for the integrative adoption of AI in learning and teaching practices. A nationwide survey was used to collect data from faculty at universities and colleges in the United States. The CAIIRS scale was developed after an extensive review of scholarly literature. Exploratory factor analysis was …