Digital Commons Network^™

Preservice Elementary Teachers Create Mathematical Mystery Object Boxes To Review And Teach Numeration, Algebra, Geometry, And Measurement, Audrey C. Rule, E. Grueniger, D. Hingre, K. Mckenna, Rov C. Williams

Open Educational Resources

A study was conducted with forty-seven preservice childhood (elementary) education teachers (42 F, 5 M) enrolled in two mathematics methods classes taught by the same instructor to determine the effect of these college students making curriculum materials appropriate for upper elementary students on the preservice teachers' knowledge of numeration, algebra, geometry, and measurement. A Mathematical Mystery Object Box is a box containing a set of objects with corresponding clue cards. The student reads the mathematical clues addressing numeration, algebra, geometry, and measurement and attempts to locate the object that satisfies them, checking work with the picture of the correct object …

Ltr Retrotransposon Evolution In Wild Sunflowers, Kaitlin Marie Stimpson

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Transposable elements are DNA sequences that are able to move from place to place in the genome, and in some cases, make copies of themselves and reinsert back into the genome. Transposable elements are divided into three classes based on their method of transposition. Class I elements transpose by an RNA intermediate, and these include L TR (long terminal repeat) and non-L TR retrotransposons. Class II elements relocate in the genome without duplication. Interestingly, class III elements entirely lack genes and rely on products of other elements for transposition. Transposable elements are no longer considered unusual or unique components of …

The Americans With Disabilities Act And How It Affects Post-Secondary Education, Annette Louise Beck

Graduate Research Papers

The Americans with Disabilities Act and how it affects post-secondary education is what this literature review addresses. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits discrimination against someone with a disability in places of employment and public places. In 1973, the United States Congress passed Section 504 and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 1990. Both helped solidify regulations regarding discrimination by any entity that receives federal funding including educational institutions. The law requires employers or schools to make a change or adjustment in a work or educational setting, program, or job that makes it …

Developing A Web-Based Video Tutorial On Using Hyperstudio, Sangsun Kim

Graduate Research Papers

The goal of this project was to provide an effective way for students to learn how to use an authoring language, HyperStudio, through an efficient interactive on-line environment. The author begins by identifying the necessary components for effective web-based tutorials and exploring video's impact on delivering web-based tutorials. The process used to plan, design, develop and implement this project was explained. This project demonstrates how a web-based tutorial can be created to assist the traditional classroom as a supplementary medium.

Using High-Order Questioning To Investigate Marine Animal Phyla, Tanya Conrad

Graduate Research Papers

Over seventy percent of the Earth is covered in ocean, yet we know more about distant planets than we do about this vast body of water or the mysterious creatures that live within. Marine Biology is the study of the billions of plants and animals that live in the sea. Today, our understanding of marine organisms has allowed us to develop new sources of food, medicine, and solutions to environmental problems. Unfortunately for students living in Iowa, offerings of this type of course are usually limited to coastal regions. However, in 2000, Hempstead High School, in Dubuque, Iowa, created a …

Empowering Families From The Start: Kindergarten Family Nights, Melissa M. Teggatz

Graduate Research Papers

There are more two parent working families and single parent families in the 21st century than in any other time period in our history. With this increase in demands put on parents, their children's education is increasingly left to the teachers and faculty the children encounter at school. For children to receive the best education possible, families and educators must therefore work together. This research project examined ways to help families and kindergarten teachers meet the needs of children. One important way is through developing and implementing two developmentally appropriate, hands-on, family night events at a middle class school district …

Antibiotic Resistance And Multi-Drug Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria In Athletics, Chad Cerullo

Graduate Research Papers

The objective of this paper is to describe the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of multi-drug resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria as it relates to the athletic medicine setting, while also describing prevention and treatment options for infections the emerge in the athletic medicine setting.

Effect Of Economics On The Health Determinants Of Fruit And Vegetable Consumption, Dan Winder

Graduate Research Papers

The goal is to identify the market factors that cause produce consumption to increase and the indicators that cause consumption to decrease. Determining the relationship between each economic factor and produce intake will help explain the effect of economics on the health aspects of fruits and vegetable consumption. Economic indicators that cause fruit and vegetable consumption to increase can be said to have a positive effect on health, while factors that cause intake to fall can be said to have a negative effect on health.

Cell Cycle Cyclin Expression Of Atrazine Treated Hepg2 Cells Using Western Blot Analysis, April Dawn Rand

Honors Program Theses

Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States. It is frequently used for general weed control on both industrial and agricultural land. However, atrazine has been associated with many harmful non-target effects in animals and humans. Due to its prevalence in the environment, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEP A) has set the maximal contaminant level of atrazine in drinking water at 3 ppb (USEP A, 2003 ). One of the non-target effects of atrazine is slowed growth of both normal and immortalized human cells. Previous work from our lab demonstrated that exposing normal …

The Effects Of The Herbicide Atrazine On Human Liver Cells, Erin R. Powell

Honors Program Theses

Atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the United States, in particular for maize crops. This herbicide is very effective against weeds. However, it has also been associated with many harmful health effects in non-target organisms such as amphibians and mammals. One of the non-target effects of atrazine may be to act as an endocrine disruptor in different cells. To study the endocrine system effects of atrazine in human cells, a human liver cell line (HepG2) was used. In this study, we determined the effects on growth of HepG2 cells after exposure to increasing concentrations of this …

The Loathsome And The Virtuous: An Examination Of Sleeping Beauty And Snow White In Literature And Film, Heather Marie Birk

Honors Program Theses

ln this analysis I look at the differences between written text and film fairy tales, and the extent to which they help children overcome moral complexities. There are two important ideas represented in written fairy tales that place fairy tales within a tradition of moral education for children. First, the relationship between prince, princess and the wicked fairy or queen resembles the relationship between Adam, Eve and Satan. This relationship is only visible in the written version of the tales, because it depends on the Princesses playing dominant roles as Eve played in Genesis. Second, the use of the Seven …

Cns Connections, Winter 2006-07, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Natural Sciences.

CNS Connections

Inside this issue:

-- Message from the Dean
-- Mini-robots duel in sumo competition
-- Earth Science offers B.S. in air quality
-- College News
-- Biology prof helps test method to reduce erosion
-- Title II grants fund CNS science education projects
-- Update from the Centers
-- Change of address for Computer Science
-- Carver grants strengthen CNS programs
-- Partnership for Goods starts at UNI
-- Faculty and Student Research Highlights
-- Ensuring a bright future for UNI
-- Alumni News
-- CNS Advisory Board

Harry Potter: A Comparison Of The Characters, Themes, Setting And Plot With The Arthurian Legend, Diane L. Engbretson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to attempt to predict if Harry Potter is a re-creation of King Arthur and if the ending of the Potter stories will mirror that of King Arthur. This research focused on one series of King Arthur books written by Howard Pyle and the Harry Potter series written by J.K. Rowling. A content analysis chart was created and implemented to compare the two series of books. A content analysis chart was completed, first of the King Arthur series and then of the Harry Potter series. This archetypal chart was used to map the characters, themes, …

Reading Comprehension Strategies For Students With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Susan Reese

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this paper was to describe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), its possible causes, characteristics, treatment options, and instructional strategies used for teaching reading comprehension to people with this disorder. ADHD is characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, or impulsiveness to a degree beyond what is considered normal for the person's age.

While the exact causes are unknown, research is beginning to reveal that the disorder is brain based and genetic in disposition. Presently there is no cure for ADHD, but treatment options are available which include medications and/or therapies. Reading comprehension strategies to assist people with ADHD include chunking, …

Incorporating Interactive Writing Throughout The Day In A Kindergarten Classroom, Amy Sobaski

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined the use of interactive writing in a kindergarten classroom. Interactive writing and related terms were explained, and connections were made between interactive writing and learning standards. Possible problems and solutions were discussed, and a case study was conducted in a kindergarten classroom. Guidelines were presented for successful integration of interactive writing into a balanced literacy program. Also, conclusions were drawn from the case study and reviewed literature, and recommendations were made for the use of interactive writing in the classroom and for future research in this area.

Gender Differences In American Children's Oral Narratives, Nadezda M. Zernova

Graduate Research Papers

Gender differences exist among different aspects of children's development (such as social, cognitive, and emotional). Children's narratives have been used as a common assessment tool (Libby & Aries, 1989; Wang & Leichtman, 2000) to learn more about gender differences. Knowledge of existing differences enables educators to individualize their teaching for boys and girls in order to benefit their development. The present study focused on gender differences in the following areas of American children's oral narratives: characters, emotional tone, structure, content, and language. The participants of the study were 14 kindergarteners and first-graders (7 boys and 7 girls) between ages 6 …

Augmentation Of Reading Across The Curriculum, Student Exploration Of Literature, And Library Collection Development Through The Compilation Of A Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography Of High School Content Area Literature, Patricia J. Erkenbrack

Graduate Research Papers

The most current National Center for Education Statistics data are that average reading scores of American adolescents have been essentially stagnant since 1971, generating concern about the ability of high school graduates to meet the literacy challenges of the twenty-first century. A 1925 study conducted by the National Committee on Reading formulated the concept of literature-based content area reading instruction, in which the substantive involvement of school librarians was seen as crucial for success. No recent research on the integration ofliterature into content areas at the high school level is available, but the effectiveness of such a strategy is implied …

What Is The Meaning Of This!?: A Case Study Of A Small, Public School In Iowa And Its Acceptable Use Policy Interpretation, Patricia L. Miles

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined why parents and students may have signed acceptable use policies without completely understanding the meaning or consequences of what that document implied. This study examined the acceptable use policy and its background, use and interpretation from the Iowa Valley School District in Marengo, Iowa.

A case study methodology was used to answer interview questions and collect data from the school district. Over a period of approximately two months, the researcher interviewed: students from various grade levels, teachers from various grade levels, technology coordinators, administrators, various board members, and various parents. The interviews were administered one at a …

Using American Library Association's Current Notable Literature For Younger And Middle Readers To Help Enhance The 6 + 1 Trait Writing™ Model In The Elementary Classroom, Debra Zwank

Graduate Research Papers

This study recognized that teachers perform under an incredible amount of stress daily. They feel overcome at the end of each day by stress and high expectations placed upon them for their students to achieve (Black, 2003, p. 37). In addition, the study showed that reading aloud was an important component in helping students become excited about reading and writing. Furthermore, research shows teachers need to help students make connections between what the teacher shares as a read-aloud and what is being taught in the classroom. Therefore, the media specialist is there to help teachers make the connection between award-winning …

Nebbe's Nature Nest : A Summary Of An Animal Assisted Therapy Camp, Nicole A. Whisler

Graduate Research Papers

Two graduate students conducted a small animal assisted therapy camp. The main goal for this camp was to enhance and promote the campers' socialization skills and self-esteem through the use of animal assisted therapy. Two pre and post measurement scales were used to evaluate the children's loneliness and self concept. The campers participated in a one-week camp lasting approximately three hours a day. To meet desired lesson goals, the campers engaged in direct animal contact and specific animal assisted activities. The following is a complete description and reaction to the animal assisted therapy camp led by Trisha (Hobbiebrunken) Ames, Nicole …

Attributing Success And Failure : Attribution Theory At Work, Ellen M. Shay

Graduate Research Papers

Attribution Theory demonstrates how people can appropriately attribute success and failure. Teachers must learn how to help students handle their successes and, perhaps more importantly, their failures. If teachers are not successful in this endeavor, the students will not succeed in a traditional school setting.

Incorporating Reading Comprehension Tools Into An Anatomy And Physiology Curriculum, Stephanie Monahan

Graduate Research Papers

During the 2003-2004 school year, Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa was one of several schools in the state selected to pilot the Iowa Professional Development Model. The purpose of the Iowa Professional Development Model is to develop a link between professional development and increasing student achievement. A main component of the model plan is the implementation of research-based activities in the professional development plan of a school. Hempstead chose to focus all professional development time on how to produce independent readers/learners by incorporating reading strategies into all curricular areas. Over the course of two school years, a professional by …

Should Corporate Farming Be Limited In The United States?: An Economic Perspective, Nathan Alan Wittmaack

Honors Program Theses

In 1920 there were approximately 6.5 million farms in the United States. 30.1 percent of United States population lived on farms. In 1992 those numbers were down to 2 million farms and less than 2 percent of the population living on farms [Allen and Lueck, 1998, 344].

The farming industry of today bears little resemblance to that of yesterday. Corporate farming has challenged the age-old structure of farming. Proponents of corporate farming say that it is more efficient than family farming and leads to more affordable food supplies. Opponents say the difference in efficiency does not justify the damage done …

Character Education, Kim Slater

Graduate Research Papers

Character education has been a topic that has been heavily talked about in many schools across the United States. This article presents the purpose and goals of character education in our school systems. Many issues and concerns are brought to educators' attentions when discussing the role character education plays. Issues and concerns such as teacher time and responsibility, proper way to teach Character Education, parents as partners, and religion and cultural differences are discussed in this article as well as the importance Character Education has on the lives of all students.

The Value Of Black And White In An Era Of Color: A Textual Analysis Of Black And White Illustrations In Picture Books, Theresa Forret

Graduate Research Papers

Children's picture books have aesthetic, personal, and educational value. The illustrations within picture books may capture the attention of young readers, create a positive attitude toward books and reading, enhance the story, and may assist with comprehension. A majority of the children's picture books published today are illustrated with bright, vibrant colors. Books illustrated in black and white are less common and perhaps less appealing to children. This study investigated three questions. Are there identifiable commonalities within the visual elements in black and white picture book illustrations? Are there commonalities and patterns in the mood, genre, and setting of picture …

The Effects Of Including Peers In Social Skills Training For Students With Autism, Cortney Boulden

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examined the effects of including autistic children with typically developing peers in social skills training programs. The benefits and limitations of the study were discussed concerning how peer models affected the performance of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Guidelines were presented to implement a social skills program. Also, conclusions and recommendations were drawn from the literature to improve social skills in autistic children by including them with typically developing children in a learning setting.

Problem Based Learning, Susan Tebbe

Graduate Research Papers

The No Child Left Behind legislation brought about a flurry of conversations regarding student achievement (McElroy, 2006). Increased use of standardized testing to measure student achievement has resulted in a discussion of teaching models. Is the transmission teaching model with its expository style the only mode to insure student success? Or is the constructivist teaching model with its inquiry style a mode that better leads to student success? This review of literature examines the instructional practices involved in problem based learning, a constructivist approach. The paper focuses on the components of problem-based learning, the benefits and challenges of using this.approach, …

Educational Ideas And The Future Of Our Society, Mallory Sue Smiens

Honors Program Theses

Thus, the study of children and educational theories provided a rationale for the present study. Further discussions led to the belief that the questions raised by the author would best be answered from a sociological perspective. Because sociology is often employed to study people and how they interact with one another, it provides a meaningful discipline to weigh the teacher preparation ideas and practices against in order to determine their wider consequences for individuals. Therefore, a study of basic sociology was undertaken.

Adding Species Diversity To A Reconstructed Prairie Using An Incremental Approach, Amy L. Carolan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Plant species diversity in reconstructed prairies is extremely low when compared to that of prairie remnants. In this experiment I am testing the feasibility of increasing the abundance of native forbs in a reconstructed prairie using an incremental approach. The site chosen for this experiment is one that consists of five species of thirty-year old prairie grasses along with 23 species of native prairie forbs that were overseeded in 1999.

I hypothesized that forb diversity could be increased in an established grassland using an incremental approach, and that mowing would amplify the success of the planting. To test these ideas …

The Effects Of Hallucination Simulations On Neurocognition: An Investigation Of Auditory Hallucinations Using The Irrelevant Speech Paradigm, Suzanne Adele Horsager

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research has made it clear that severe psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, are often associated with deficits in neurocognition. Unfortunately, because of the complicated makeup of most psychiatric disorders, it is challenging to distinguish the nature of the neurocognitive deficits. Recent research has begun to look more specifically at the symptoms of these disorders ( e.g., auditory hallucinations) to examine the specific effects the symptoms have on patients. This research has suggested a link between auditory hallucinations and deficits in attentional inhibition as well as working memory abilities. However, current research has not considered whether the impairments associated with these …