Digital Commons Network^™

Social Media And Kids: An Issue Guide, Timothy A. Mcallister, Mekhai Ryan, Connor Sands, Matthew Turman, Spencer Friedberg

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

Our goal with this project is to foster civil discourse on issues relating to kids and social media, examining both the potential benefits and harms they may experience. We used HB 1: Online Protections for Minors as a starting point, as a relevant example of regulatory measures aimed at safeguarding children online.

Throughout our project, we've learned a lot to deeply understand the various perspectives on this issue. From concerns about the detrimental effects on mental and physical health to considerations of privacy and freedom of speech, we have definitely expanded our own knowledge on the topic while completing this …

Beyond Fear: Inspiring Students To Appreciate Sharks And Understand Their Role In The Ocean, Carolina A. Souza, Janelle Seefelt, Jordyn Delikat, Brianna Rendon

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Our team visited a fourth-grade classroom of 26 students at Geneva Elementary School to speak on sharks. We highlighted the ecological significance of sharks, cultural respect for them in Polynesian and Hawaiian cultures, threats facing shark populations, and different ways students could help protect them. Our goal was to address negative stigma surrounding sharks. The students participated in a take-home project where they decorated their own paper bag shark puppet and wrote what they loved about sharks on the back. They also made shark tooth necklaces. Lastly, each student picked a marine organism, decorated it, and glued it onto a …

Taylor Davis - Eportfolio, Taylor Davis

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

The purpose of my ePortfolio project is to serve as a digital collection of the many and various experiences that I have had the privilege of accumulating throughout the last several years as an undergraduate student. Through the process of creating this ePortfolio, I was given the opportunity to reflect on a comprehensive recollection of all of these experiences, gaining a more insightful approach and examining how these events will influence my future endeavors. Key activities included compiling a variety of materials including photos, videos, proposal documents, certifications, and more to create an all-encompassing portfolio of experiences. This compilation helped …

Providing Oral Healthcare Access For The Uninsured Via American Muslim Community Clinics, Diego J. Bodden

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

American Muslim Community Clinic is a non-profit clinic responsible for providing the best healthcare care services at no cost to uninsured community members of Central Florida. They offer various health services, including primary care, dental care, and other specialist services. At AMCC, my responsibility was explicitly to the dental side of the clinic, where I was responsible for assisting the dentist with dental procedures, x-rays, and patient communication. My purpose is to impact the community positively and serve the underserved with authenticity and hardworking intentions to benefit the community. AMCC has taught me a lot about communication and ensuring people …

Essays To Empirical Studies: Transferring Introductory Writing Skills To Psychological Research, Anna A. Hubbard

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

This research focuses on how skills from introductory English courses are used for research writing in psychology. It explores why introductory English classes are important for psychology majors, what writing skills are used in research writing, and how well psychology students with high school English credits are prepared for research writing their freshman year. Previous research showed that skills from intro English courses need to be retained and built upon. Previous research also showed that psychology students need to have a variety of writing skills by the time they graduate. This research addresses how psychology students who did not take …

History Of Injustices And The Current Interim Government Actions In Bangladesh, Kazi S. Salsabil

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

The project illustrates the knowledge I obtained through the U-LEAD global leadership course and the research project assessing global issues. This illustration will discuss the past and current situation of Bangladesh. It has only been 53 years since Bangladesh became independent. Unfortunately, the country has a long history of political struggles. The country is recovering from the destabilized government left by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The purpose of this project is to assess the political and societal obstacles faced by Bangladesh.

Additionally, psychological well-being and accessibility to resources will be evaluated. For this project, I used Google Forms to …

Doing Good With Goods And Grace, Piper Sunvold

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Goods and Grace is a non-profit grocery store located in Casselberry, Florida, specifically founded to serve the low income community in Central Florida. Goods and Grace’s mission is “To nourish Bodies & Souls with Dignity and Grace” (Goods and Grace, n.d.). They fulfill this mission by providing lower priced grocery store items to families that meet the low income requirements, and by providing members with advice on job hunting, cooking, and other areas. While serving with Goods and Grace, I was a cashier, who checked people out as well as restocked shelves. However, there were also many people who just …

Creating Moments Of Magic: Volunteering At Give Kids The World, Parker R. Tyson

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

As part of my service-learning project, I volunteered with Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit dedicated to offering memorable vacations for children with critical illnesses and their families. With over 100 hours of service, I participated in activities that helped create a welcoming environment for guests. This experience taught me the importance of compassion and empathy in service. I am extremely grateful to have volunteered for such a great organization.

Pathways To Potential: Guiding Middle School Students Through Career Exploration, Megan Rhodes

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Megan partnered with a local middle school to supplement their curriculum through career development small groups and class lessons, focusing on soft skills and learning about the self. She worked with sixth graders in small groups, and a mix of all grades for classroom lessons. The goal of these interventions is for students to feel more confident in their knowledge about themselves, and to be more equipped with knowledge about their different interests and strengths. The focus of each intervention includes skills, grit, Holland codes and interests, community helpers, and effort. Megan learned how to confidently communicate to students in …

"Addressing Sexual Abuse: Unveiling Hidden Realities", Shanzida Toha

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

My inspiration was from my IDS 4939 course where we had to present about a topic that we are devoted towards. It could be conveyed through PowerPoint, video, etc. but for me I chose to write a research paper about the indiscriminate circumstances that influence Sexual Abusers behavior, and how it profoundly directs their course of action. After an endless time spent on gaining data, this sensitive topic sent me to a black hole of no return. With boundless sources of support with the help of the internet I was feeling guilty as to what I could do with this. …

Experiencing Opening Your Heart To Hope, Lucia Quinones

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

Working at the HOPE Chest Thrift Store, I got to learn about looking through quality of clothing, talking with the community, staff members, cleaning up the store, and learning what it's like from an outsider's perspective vs a behind the scenes perspective on how workers are in the back. Main learning lessons, discipline and hard work can go a long way for impacting others. Everyone is doing their best and being the leader to see the background, leads to an open-mind. My goal was to work at a food pantry but it turned into working at a thrift store that …

Empowering Lives : The Positive Impact Of Oca’S Arts, And Education Programs, Robert D. Hoel Jr

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

The purpose of this project is to explore how the Opportunity, Community, Ability (OCA) organization impacts the lives of individuals with a range of special needs, helping them develop new skills and strengthen those they may struggle to master. My primary approach involves direct communication with the director and volunteering at OCA events over the coming months. This firsthand experience allows me to observe the organization’s impact on its community. Specifically, I chose to volunteer with OCA’s Running Man Theater Program, as theater holds a special place in my heart, and I feel it’s where I can make the most …

The Special Olympics Florida: A Service Learning Experience, Brooke M. Leggiero

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2024

In serving with the Special Olympics Florida to provide sports and training to athletes with intellectual dissabilities, there were three key insights learned. The first is that unexperienced willingness is more valued than unengaged talent. Then, communication is the road that good leadership travels on. Last, organization and preparation are important, but flexibility makes them golden. Each of these key insights is important in having good citizenship as a leader. Being willing is an essential piece to taking responsibility for your community. Communication allows you to lead as a community member, not just a solo leader. Flexibility allows you to …

What, Like It's Hard? (It Is If You Don't Have The Right Foundation!), Grayson Spillman, Juliana Baez, Emily Davila

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2024

This presentation is about our experience as learning assistants for General Chemistry I and how we observed that student with the best understanding of topics had a solid foundation of chemistry knowledge. Our presentation encourages professors and learning assistants to call attention to and emphasize topics that are part of students chemistry foundation.

Unlocking The Path To Psychology: A Guide To Building A Career In The Field, Kazi S. Salsabil

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

The Psychology 3074: Career Readiness 2 course offers an integrative learning experience aimed at enhancing students' professional development. This project reflects my journey as a student in building a solid foundation in professional communication, self-presentation, job market navigation, and the continuous growth fostered by embracing feedback. Throughout the course, we developed essential career readiness skills, including refining resumes and cover letters, participating in mock interviews, cultivating resilience in response to feedback, and crafting compelling elevator pitches. Additionally, resources such as the UCF Writing Center and Handshake played a pivotal role in advancing my resume, cover letter, and interview preparation, contributing …

Disability Representation In Contemporary Playwriting, Caroline Hull

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Is it possible for a playwright to authentically capture the disabled experience without it becoming privy to stereotypes or utilized as a catalyst for the plot? The thesis aims to challenge the prevalent notion that making the disability intrinsic to a theatrical plot is essential for authentic representation, and instead asserts that authentic portrayal of the disabled experience can exist independently of making the disability a central plot device. To support this claim, In Chapter One, I engage with relevant work in the field of playwriting and narrative media studies, such as the workshop "Inaccessible: Writing Plays with Characters who …

Theatrical Tools To Support The Community Agreement, Bethany E. Post

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

When working with a new group of people, it is common practice to create a Community Agreement in pursuit of quality outcomes. This tool uses dialogue to methodically outline the desired educational or creative environment, democratically articulating the commitments and expectations to remain in place throughout the duration of the group's existence and setting all participants in accord with the work to come. However, the Community Agreement can fail to support individual participants during moments of inevitable tension. In such moments, participants may experience unplanned emotional or physical reactions in response to triggering material or ideas. To navigate these reactions …

Steps Of Theatrical Design: A Resource For Activating Educators To Teach Design In High Schools, Chandler Caroccio

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

As a designer and educator, I am continuously gathering more resources for personal knowledge and to share with my students. Yet there is currently a lack of literature when it comes to design pedagogy for all design areas, specifically for high school aged students. How can we teach theatrical design in a tactful and meaningful way to high school students throughout the United States? Steps of Theatrical Design: A Resource for Activating Educators to Teach Design in High Schools, is for educators to learn about the process of design and spread that knowledge to their students. This thesis will …

Creating Connection: Utilizing Dramaturgical Collaboration To Engage Young People In Theatre Making In A Post-Pandemic World, Gabrielle Lawlor

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the theatrical landscape, prompting theatre artists to reinvent how they connect with audiences and each other in physical spaces. While research has delved into post-pandemic theatre making, much of this area remains unexplored, particularly concerning young people, how the loss of community has impacted them, and what society can do to help. This thesis investigates how professional directors and dramaturgs can effectively engage young people in theatre making post-pandemic by drawing on three specific productions — Camelot and Camelittle, WROL (Without Rule of Law), and Alice and the Wonderland Parties. Utilizing theories drawn …

Inclusifying The Rehearsal Room: Creating Accessible And Accommodating Theatrical Spaces For Young People, Christian Anderson

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

In youth theatre spaces, it is up to the facilitators to discover and create new ways to include more students, especially those who previously didn't have a seat at the table. Making rehearsal spaces inclusive and accessible to all starts by establishing inclusion as an innate practice integrated into every step of the process. This thesis focuses on creating inclusive and accessible rehearsal spaces outside of the traditional classroom for young people ages 8-22, specifically in community theatre and collegiate spaces. The director's role is explored in two projects: Home of the Brave, a Theatre for Young Audiences production …

Theatre As Resistance: Application Of Queer And Feminist Theories To Theatrical Practice And Pedagogy, Chanel H. Gomaa

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Throughout my time at UCF, I have committed my studies to better understanding my positionality as someone who both benefits and suffers from systems of oppression. I have dedicated my pedagogy and artistry to questioning how I can apply theatre as a tool to resist these systems through my work, as well as wondering how I may communicate my thoughts and concerns to the colleagues I collaborate with as I am to hold myself accountable for my involvement in works that I recognize as being in need of revision in order to resist systems of oppression. I conceptualize that to …

Imaginative Immersion: Developing A Theatre Of The Mind Pedagogy For An Ever-Changing Educational Landscape, Cory Kennedy Barrow

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

The suspension of disbelief is integral to the performing arts. We ask our actors to see couches made of three chairs, designers to create cities in empty spaces, and most of all; we ask audiences to believe the stories and relationships that are figurative and often abstract. This level of critical and creative engagement is assumed to develop in spaces of higher education. However, with an ever-changing world and increasing conversions and integrations of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in spaces of higher education, it has become even more apparent that students need to develop their creative and critical thinking skills earlier …

Nailed It: Creative Nonfiction Essays, Kristi M. Dao

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Nailed It is a collection of personal essays that follow the life of the narrator as an unlovable outsider raised by parents who are Vietnam War refugees. This collection is made up of seven essays, each focusing on the relationships that have shaped the speaker's identity and ideas about how love works. “Lost in Translation” opens the collection and explores the narrator's attempts to make sense of parental relationships defined by communication errors. The next several essays consider the father and mother as both parents and business owners, as well as relationships with people beyond the immediate household and family. …

Foreign Language Writing Anxiety: Lived Experiences Of International Graduate Students, Padideh Fattahi Marnani

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This qualitative transcendental phenomenological study investigates the lived experiences of international graduate students dealing with Second Language Writing Anxiety (SLWA), utilizing Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenological approach for data analysis. The study is framed by Horwitz’s theory of Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) and draws on data from seven participants from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Data collection methods included interviews, researcher’s memos, and writing samples. The findings reveal several causes of SLWA, including the experience of being judged, low self-confidence, avoidance and procrastination, limited technical vocabulary and ability to elaborate on ideas, and lack of proper grammar. The consequences of SLWA include …

Developing Integrated Dna Molecular Circuits, Andrea C. Bardales Martinez

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Due to nucleic acid’s programmability, it is possible to realize DNA structures with computing functions, and thus a new generation of molecular computers is evolving to solve biological and medical problems. There is evidence that genetic heredity diseases and cancer can be the result of genetic heterogeneity, thus there is a need for diagnostics and therapeutic tools with multiplex and smart components to compute all the molecular drivers. DNA molecular computers mimics electronic computers by programming synthetic nucleic acids to perform similarly to central processing units. Considering how the evolution of integrated circuits made possible the revolution of silicon-based computers, …

Assessment Of Caretaker Resources And Motivation In The Wean-To-Market Phase Of Swine Production, Joshua W. Holtkamp

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

This study is a novel application of I/O Psychology principles to the U.S. swine industry. The Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) recently identified caretaker motivation related to compliance with biosecurity behaviors as a priority needing to be better understood. This exploratory study seeks to identify if there is indeed a worker motivation issue within the industry that is impacting compliance with biosecurity, and if so, establish both a baseline of motivation and a better understanding of the primary influencing factors. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Job Demands/Resources Model of Burnout as a framework, an online survey was …

Understanding And Enhancing Performance And Microarchitecture Security In Modern And Emerging Computer Systems, Md Hafizul Islam Chowdhuryy

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Ensuring information security and scalable performance are critical in modern processor architecture designs. High-performance, data-intensive applications demand robust microarchitectures that are both secure-by-design and efficient. This dissertation explores new information leakage threats in modern processors and proposes secure-by-design architectures for emerging systems.

First, we examine vulnerabilities in existing microarchitectures, focusing on speculative execution's security implications. We reveal that branch predictor designs in modern processors are speculatively updated, leading to a novel speculative execution side channel. We propose a secure branch predictor architecture to mitigate this issue while maintaining performance benefits.

Second, we address challenges with emerging non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies. …

Exploring Barriers And Pathways To Public Engagement On Climate Change, Monica Mayer

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Despite evidence of its severity and urgency, climate change elicits relatively high skepticism and low concern within the U.S. This study explores psychological barriers preventing people from prioritizing the issue as well as potential strategies to overcome those barriers. Interviews with individuals living in Florida identifying as cautious, disengaged, or doubtful about climate change were conducted between September and October 2023. Participants expressed skepticism over humanity’s impact on the climate. They further conveyed that other nations have a larger impact on climate change than the U.S, that the issue’s criticality is exaggerated, and that observable weather shifts are not the …

Humor As An Instructional Communication Tool: Revisiting Humor And Exploring The New Punchline In Human-Machine Communication, Melissa M. Looney

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This research examined the role of humor in instructional communication, focusing on human-to-human and human-machine communication (HMC). As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in learning environments, it is critical to understand how elements such as humor influence user perceptions and, consequently, affective learning outcomes. Previous arguments about humor in educational settings, particularly those centered on traditional student-teacher interactions, have been arguably derelict. Therefore, this research revisited earlier assertions about humor, extending the inquiry to include online communication and AI-driven chatbots in learning management systems. Specifically, the study explored how humor and the type of agent (human or AI chatbot) …

Effectively Communicating Uncertainty In Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasts, Robert W. Eicher

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This body of research investigated methods for effectively communicating the inherent, technical uncertainty in tropical cyclone intensity forecasts through three separate studies. The first investigation uses Hurricane Laura as a case study. Laura rapidly intensified before making landfall in Cameron, Louisiana, catching some residents off guard. The study demonstrates how publics could be more effectively alerted to future hurricane worst-case scenarios using best practices recommended by the risk communication literature. The second study is an experiment that examines the effectiveness of adding numerical probability information to hurricane forecasts. Prior research suggests that using numeric probability information along with words and …