Digital Commons Network^™

Programmable Integrated Topological Photonics, Amin Hashemi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The interplay between non-Hermiticity and topology has emerged as a frontier in photonics, with important implications for quantum optics, lasers, and sensors. While conventional approaches rely on Hermitian band structures, recent theory shows that loss and dissipation can themselves give rise to novel topological phenomena. In this dissertation, we experimentally explore this paradigm using programmable integrated photonic platforms based on coupled silicon ring resonators. We first demonstrate that purely non-Hermitian effects, without any underlying Hermitian topology, can induce topological edge states. Implementing a non-Hermitian Aubry–Andre–Harper model with loss modulation, we observe edge-localized modes in both periodic and quasiperiodic configurations and …

Advancements In Slow-Wave Thin Film Lithium Niobate For Opto-Electronic Communications, Joseph W. Haefner

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The views expressed in this dissertation are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

The explosive growth of human connectedness over the previous decades has, and will continue to strain the communication infrastructure under-girding modern economies, and society. The continuous expansion of data-centers, advanced artificial intelligence models, and remote data storage will require novel high bandwidth solutions for both long haul and local inter-connects. Current solutions seek to expand link bandwidth through the use of complex high baud rate constellations, in …

Utilizing Recommendation Systems To Achieve More Personalized Themed Experiences, Bryan P. Mcgowan

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Digital platforms such as Amazon, Netflix, and YouTube demonstrate the effectiveness of recommendation systems to personalize content and drive revenue, yet themed attractions have historically offered limited personalization. This thesis explores how recommendation systems can enhance adaptive themed experiences, focusing on branching narratives and dynamic environments that respond to guest behavior. Research from literature relevant to recommendation systems, along with analyses of successful attractions and digital experiences, informed the creative solutions developed for The Nexus. In this immersive walkthrough attraction, guests pass through a magical portal into a multiverse that adapts to their preferences and actions. This research shows how …

The Marginalization Of The Malgre Nous In French Society From Its Roots To The 1960s, Marie Oury

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines how young Alsatians found themselves on the margins of postwar France. The illegal annexation of their region by Germany in 1940 led them into a bitter paradox: within months, they had to support their enemy's war effort. The National Socialist (Nazi) regime's coercion reached its height between 1942 and 1945, when 130,000 young men and women from Alsace and Moselle were conscripted into the German army against their will. After the war, this generation bore the weight of that history, struggling to reintegrate into France, a nation that sought to avoid grappling with the complex experiences of …

Digitally-Mediated Nature-Connectedness?: Listeners’ Emotional Responses To And Perception Of Digitized Nature Sounds, Marissa Salas

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

• Faced with the potential closure or privatization of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), it is important to reflect on the conservation efforts using soundscapes. This dissertation explores the gap between experts and lay listeners in listening to soundscapes through the digitally-mediated spaces (e.g. YouTube). In a pilot project conducted in 2024 that used facial emotional recognition software and a talk-aloud protocol, data on emotions was collected. Using NPS video recordings on its webpages, social media accounts and via other digital channels (YouTube, etc.) created by NPS experts, this project employed an innovative, interdisciplinary, mixed-methods experimental design to investigate …

Expanding The World Of Themed Entertainment Through Choice-Based Narratives: How Video Game Design Principles Inspire Immersion In Attractions, Layla R. Mccarthy

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Within most traditional theme park attractions, guest interaction does not directly impact the unfolding of the narrative. While there are many examples of encouraged interaction, guests still lack agency. Within this research, the goal is to develop a hypothetical theme park attraction (titled The Library of Worlds) where guests will be met with various choices that influence the trajectory of the story. Drawing inspiration from non-linear storytelling and interactive gaming, this study explores integration of choice-based narratives into themed entertainment, questioning the ways in which agency can enhance immersion and connection within attractions – as well as what elements …

Live Content: Turning Guests Into Co-Creators Of Gamified Attractions, Brittany Mcchesney

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Based on an in-depth exploratory literature review, this thesis proposes to assess how a live content team might interact with the lifecycle of a gamified theme park attraction. To offer unique and memorable experiences to Guests, there has been an increase in the development of theme park attractions that are “gamified,” in that Guests can interface with some interactive game element or experience. This is especially pertinent with the development of video-game-focused lands and attractions, such as Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, Hollywood, and soon to be Epic Universe in Orlando, FL. Attractions can incorporate gamification in a …

Macabre Therapeutics: An Exploration Into The Cathartic Nature Of Splatter Utilizing The Saw Franchise As Corpus, Rosalind E. Rohrbaugh

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This project positions splatter (a subgenre of horror films that centralizes gore) as applicable for sociopolitical critique and emotional catharsis, disrupting the narrative of splatter as a solely shock-based enterprise. The project utilizes the Saw franchise as a corpus, which reignited audience interest in extreme horror in 2004, rejuvenating splatter film releases since their stagnancy throughout the 1990s. This research seeks to answer why Saw captured the attention of audiences and returned the splatter subgenre to the 21st century, utilizing psychoanalytical film analysis, sociopolitical analysis, semiotics, content analysis, and archival research as methodology and drawing on Aristotle’s Catharsis and Rhetorical …

Of Fate And Fear: An Interactive Narrative Approach To Experiential Horror, David A. Brescia

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the nature of guest interactivity in themed entertainment, considering best practices when approaching the creation of an interactive theme park offering with the belief that narrative interactivity and guest agency increases the potential for meaningful, memorable, and engaging entertainment experiences. Taking both established literature and existing offerings into consideration, this thesis presents an original creative narrative design concept for a Halloween haunt event overlay, titled Fear the Unknown, that enhances the guest experience with an emphasis on interactivity and agency. This creative work is presented specifically from the point of view of the show writing discipline, consisting …

Understanding Pre-Service Teachers’ Engagement, Application And Perception Of Instructor Feedback In An Online Teacher Education Course: An Action Research Study, Iram Khan

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Teachers should prioritize continuous professional development through shared experiences and reflective teaching to remain competitive in the global education system and become better teachers to assist language learners in achieving their goals (Vadivel et al., 2021). Professional development courses are crucial for enhancing teaching skills; however, there is a concern that such initiatives seem ineffective in promoting change in teaching practices (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; Gore et al., 2017). Implementing effective instructional approaches in teacher education courses, such as feedback and reflection, is crucial for aspiring teachers to enhance their knowledge and professional growth (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; Pharis et …

Comparing Experiences In Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous (Mara) Versus 12-Step Groups: A Qualitative Study, Rachel Totaram

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The United States continues to face an opioid epidemic, with over 80,000 opioid overdose deaths reported in 2023. Although medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) are effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), stigma remains a major barrier to their adoption. People taking MOUDs often feel stigmatized within traditional 12-step peer support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous (AA/NA), potentially harming the recovery process. Medication-Assisted Recovery Anonymous (MARA) was recently developed as an alternative 12-step support group explicitly open to people using MOUD.

This qualitative mixed methods study retrospectively examines how MARA meetings differ from AA/NA meetings, based on …

Teacher Retention And The Disabilities-To-Prison Pipeline, Angela P. Mccloud-Bond

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

There is an overrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Similar to the commonly known School-to-Prison Pipeline, Christoper Mallet has coined the term the Disabilities-to-Prison Pipeline to refer to this growing problem. Research has not yet determined how individual variables at the school or district levels lead to the expansion of the Disabilities-to-Prison Pipeline. Mallot (2021) presented three possible hypotheses to explain the expansion of this phenomenon: the differential treatment hypothesis, the school failure hypothesis, and the susceptibility hypothesis. There is a significant gap in the literature that focuses specifically on the differential treatment of …

The Effect Of Four Vocabulary Tasks On The Initial Learning And Retention Of Formulaic Language: The Case Of Phrasal Verbs, Eman Barri

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The quasi-experimental study investigated the effect of four vocabulary tasks on the learning and retention of English phrasal verbs (PVs). University Intensive English Program students (91) completed one of the following tasks: One Fill-in-the-Blank, Three Fill-in-the-Blank, Sentence Writing, and Composition Writing. Their knowledge of eight target PVs was measured using a modified vocabulary knowledge scale at three points: pretest, immediate posttest, and delayed posttest (two weeks later). A mixed factorial ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between task and time. Follow-up repeated-measures and one-way ANOVAs showed that the Three Fill-in-the-Blank produced the highest scores on both posttests. Consistent with findings on …

Knowledge Kept Or Knowledge Shared? Understanding The Tenure Relationship And The Power Of Knowledge Management In The U.S. Public Workforce, Kristan Avis

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This study examined the relationship between organizational tenure and knowledge hiding behaviors within the U.S. public sector, with a focus on how perceptions of knowledge management systems (KMS) and the relational role of the requestor shape these dynamics. Knowledge hiding, defined as the intentional concealment of knowledge when requested by others, represents a critical barrier to organizational effectiveness, particularly in government settings where collaboration and information exchange are essential. Guided by social exchange theory, the study investigated how employees weigh perceived costs and benefits when engaging in knowledge hiding behavior. A mixed-methods design was employed, integrating quantitative survey data from …

Cigarettes, Flesh, & Other Cravings, Gabrielle F. Decker

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Cigarettes, Flesh, & Other Cravings is a collection of short stories that explores themes of motherhood, death, and desire. Each character struggles with the friction between society's expectations and their desires for happiness, all through the lens of the surreal and the absurd. A destructive raccoon’s nightly visits unravel a woman’s sense of control. A teenager begins an internship with a conspiracy-obsessed clown. A minuscule old woman tumbles out of a chicken egg. A fissure in a kitchen floor births an imp. A Choose Your Own Adventure examines the illusion of choice. In Hell, torture is personalized. Cigarettes, Flesh, & …

High-Efficiency Micro-Display Light Engines, Yizhou Qian

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Augmented reality displays, which integrate digital information with environmental backgrounds, are emerging in our daily lives. To ensure readability under outdoor environments with intense ambient light, AR displays must achieve high luminance levels suitable for human visual perception. However, severe light leakage in waveguide couplers and significant losses during exit pupil expansion limit the overall system efficiency to approximately 4%, requiring the light engine to reach luminance levels over one million nits. In addition, to match visual acuity while keeping a compact light engine size (< 1cc), full-color pixel pitch must be below 4 µm. This dissertation is devoted to addressing the possibility of existing light engines to meet these demanding requirements.

In Chapter 2, we comprehensively analyze the power consumption of existing commercial light engines …

Designing Immersive Educational Experiences: An Exploration Of Animal Attractions And Exhibits To Create A National Park Themed Experience, Sarah G. Merrill

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis analyzes the disconnect between immersive environmental storytelling and conservation education at animal attractions. How can designers create immersive educational experiences that engage audiences? Can environmental narrative practices be applied in a new way to develop effective conservation and wildlife education? A literature review assists in defining immersion, discovering the evolution of Modern Zoo design as an immersive experience, and evaluating conversation education in animal facilities. When combined with educational techniques, immersive habitat design improves guest engagement and informal conservation learning outcomes in zoos and animal-related experiences. Using Scott Lukas’ theming and immersion modes, three attractions are analyzed as …

Exploring The Role Of Geofencing, Geolocation, And Audio Descriptions In Enhancing Mobility And Inclusion For Individuals With Blindness And Visual Impairments In Museums And Indoor Spaces, Javier Enrique Molinares

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation explores the challenges individuals with blindness and visual impairments face in navigating cultural spaces, explicitly focusing on museums, and emphasizes the importance of inclusion. The study explores how conventional accessibility solutions can accidentally establish obstacles which restrict autonomy and diminish chances for meaningful participation. Accessibility challenges were identified through qualitative observations at the Gateway Museum, located within the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida. Additionally, interviews and a participatory co-design methodology involving five participants with blindness and visual impairments were conducted. These methods led to the development of a mobility application that combines geolocation technology, …

Visual Experience Enhancement In Augmented Reality Waveguide Displays, Yuqiang Ding

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

In the dynamic arena of display technology, augmented reality (AR) displays represent a pivotal advancement, seamlessly bridging the digital and physical worlds. This dissertation mainly examines waveguide-based AR display technologies—which enable slim form factors and large eyebox via exit pupil expansion—yet still face persistent challenges: low ambient contrast ratio (ACR), poor color performance and slow simulation design cycles. To address these issues, this dissertation introduces novel liquid crystal photonic devices and system-level optical solutions—together with accelerated simulation methods for design—to enhance user experience and system performance. First, the dissertation examines one of the major efficiency bottlenecks arises from multiple interactions …

& Everything Else, Ian R. Abercrombie

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

& EVERYTHING ELSE is a collection of stories that explores various forms of obsession. In “BEG FOR SCRAPS,” Pickle, a former bomb-sniffing dog, fixates on his owner, who’s fallen into a cycle of neglect post-divorce. “LET THEM FIGHT” follows Casey, a 20-something on a date to see, for the umpteenth time, a kaiju movie that conjures their escapist tendencies from a traumatic childhood. “DINNER WITH THE FOOL,” narrated by a state-appointed clown obsessed with jokes, describes a family contending with their matriarch’s planned suicide. “BIRDWATCHING” follows three characters, each with their own odd obsession: Jodie who wants to photograph a …

A Depth-Integrated Investigation Of Hydrodynamic Habitat Preferences Of Seagrass In Estuarine Environments, Madison Giuntoli

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Submerged aquatic vegetation shapes morphodynamic, hydrodynamic, and ecological attributes of shallow, coastal waters. Though seagrasses have been shown to exhibit threshold tolerances in response to varying light, salinity, and temperature, hydrodynamic thresholds have yet to be described. In this study, seagrass distribution data observed over 25 years were combined with modeled wave energy to quantify the hydrodynamic preferences of seagrass. The frequency distributions of wind-wave heights in the study area (Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River Lagoon, and Lake Worth Lagoon, Florida) were characterized using the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) numerical model. Seagrass distribution data, collected through direct observation and aerial imagery …

The Value Of Balance: Exploring Timelessness Of Narrative Styles And Character Dynamics Through Animation, Jessica Gray

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Dazzling: A Timekeepers Tale is a 2D/3D animated short film that explores timeless storytelling, perception of time, anthropomorphism, and friendship. The film illustrates the necessity for balance between curiosity and caution when striving to learn. Through the dual protagonists’ contrasting personalities, they reach a deeper understanding of each other, thus learning the value of balance. This theme was constructed around a fantasy space that will function as a means of understanding varying perceptions of time. Thesis research explores ideas of balance between traditional Western narrative structures such as the Hero’s Journey, Aesopic fables, and Buddy Comedy within a combination of …

Screen Time On Stage: The Effect Of Internet And The Smartphone On The Actor, Nathan A. Olmeda

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the potential link between an actor’s cell phone use and their work in the rehearsal process. Using Paula Thomson and S. Victoria Jaque’s Creativity and the Performing Artist and Nichola Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing To Our Brains, I analyze the neural networks of the brain that are engaged in acting and their functions to develop a greater understanding of their association to behaviors and emotional responses that may impact the actor in the rehearsal/performance space. Furthermore, I investigate the emergence of smartphone use within the cultural zeitgeist and its effect on the …

Development Of Human Neuronal Microphysiological Models And Subsequent Integration Into Multi-Organ Platforms For Evaluation Of Therapeutic Efficacy And Off-Target Toxicity, Aakash Patel

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Microphysiological systems are a rapidly growing field of research for modeling of physiological processes and disease in an in vitro environment. The translatability and cost effectiveness of these platforms make them a valuable tool for drug discovery, allowing investigation of both efficacy and off-target toxicity either as a replacement or supplement to traditional animal models. Neurological disorders in particular are often difficult to emulate in an animal model, making the development of these models a highly useful area of research for both elucidation of brain function, as well as neurological disorders. Taking these models and integrating them into a multi-organ …

The Coffee Corner Project: Creating Rehearsal Community Through The Café Space, Jacob Romeo

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The ensemble is the heart of any rehearsal process, and a sense of community as an ensemble is enriched more in the moments between rehearsing than in the rehearsal room itself. Approaching the ensemble from this perspective, this thesis examines how this connection can be strengthened or deepened by observing the history of the coffee shop social space. I implemented this lens of community into the rehearsal process by constructing a pared-down cafe space adjacent to the rehearsal room that elevated coffee beyond its “grab and go” forms into an enriching sensory experience where the cast and creative team were …

Application Of Multi-Branching Narratives And Cooperative Gaming For Theme Park Rides, Jon Bryan Salvador

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This thesis examines the opportunities to combine video game concepts such as branching narrative games and cooperative games with interactive theme park rides or attractions. With the state of the contemporary themed entertainment industry explicitly defining the guest’s role to the context of the ride or attraction’s storyworld, there is a need to reassess the conventional forms of theme park ride interactivity to create a more dynamic narrative, gameplay experience, and guest or audience engagement. Through a brief analysis of relevant themed experience and video game references, this research proposes a cooperative theme park ride that utilizes a modified version …

Coach For The Approach: The Educator’S New Role In The Age Of Ai, Kevin Yee, Laurie Uttich, Elizabeth Giltner, Anastasia Bojanowski

UCF Created OER Works

No abstract provided.

Sharpening Marketing Strategy Through Smart Chatgpt Prompts, Wenkai Zhou

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students will use ChatGPT to simulate real-world marketing scenarios by crafting precise and targeted prompts. They will focus on generating creative content, uncovering customer insights, and optimizing pricing strategies. Through iterative prompt refinement, students will learn how to guide ChatGPT to deliver more relevant and strategic outputs. Ethical guidelines will be incorporated into the prompting process, ensuring students understand the boundaries and responsible uses of AI-generated content. This exercise enhances their critical thinking, communication skills, and ethical decision-making capabilities.

Zero Fluf(F): Guided Activity For Effective Ai Prompting And Output Review With The Fluf(F) Test, Jennifer L. Parker

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

To support AI literacy, educators integrate the FLUF(F) Test Guided Practice Activity as a structured approach to teaching effective GenAI interactions. This strategy emphasizes the dual nature of AI engagement—prompt generation as input and critical evaluation as output. Learners use the FLUF(F) Test templates to craft purposeful prompts and assess AI-generated responses across formats like text, images, or multimedia. Over time, this guided practice helps students internalize the process, enabling confident and natural interactions with AI tools.

Occupancy Prediction In Airbnb Listings Using Deep And Classical Machine Learning Models, Liam Kilkenny

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Airbnb hosts and renters lack reliable tools to anticipate future occupancy, which is critical for setting competitive prices, planning availability, and making informed booking decisions. This is especially true as artificial intelligence capabilities continue to advance, so focusing on using the most efficient and effective models is vital. This is especially important when considering an average user, who might want a specialized model but has limited resources. By using the correct models, accuracy and computing time can be optimized for the end user. This thesis addresses that practical gap by evaluating several state-of-the-art machine learning models for predicting Airbnb listing …