Digital Commons Network^™

Battleship Roots, Tallgrass Prairie Center

Open Educational Resources

Pairs of students play a battleship-style game to show how roots explore the soil to obtain resources.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter, January 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. Iowa Waste Reduction Center.

Iowa Waste Reduction Center Newsletter

Contents:

--- Registration Now Open for Midwest Food Recovery Summit
--- What We’re Looking Forward to at the Midwest Food Recovery Summit
--- 6X Certification and Compliance Report for 2016
--- 2016 Grain Elevator PTE Report
--- SLEIS Training
--- Industry News

Herbaceous Vascular Flora Of Forested Seep Wetlands In Winneshiek County, Iowa, Usa, Elizabeth A. Lynch, Anna Burke Weckwerth

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Forested seep wetlands dominated by skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) occur frequently in the Canoe Creek watershed of the Upper Iowa River, but this type of wetland has not been described systematically in the upper Midwest. The goal of this study is to document the herbaceous plant flora of five seeps. Although individual seeps are small (200-500 m²), they provide habitat for a high number of plant species. Five seeps with total area less than 0.2 ha supported more than 120 native vascular herbaceous taxa, 20 of which have a coefficient of conservatism (C-value) of 7 or …

Is High Folic Acid Intake A Risk Factor For Autism?—A Review, Darrell Wiens, M. Catherine Desoto

Faculty Work

Folate is required for metabolic processes and neural development. Insuring its adequate levels for pregnant women through supplementation of grain-based foods with synthetic folic acid (FA) in order to prevent neural tube defects has been an ongoing public health initiative. However, because women are advised to take multivitamins containing FA before and throughout pregnancy, the supplementation together with natural dietary folates has led to a demographic with high and rising serum levels of unmetabolized FA. This raises concerns about the detrimental effects of high serum synthetic FA, including a rise in risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some recent studies …

The Effects Of Blended Learning On K-12th Grade Students, Laura Hesse

Graduate Research Papers

Blended learning is used to incorporate technology into the classroom and to aid in instruction. This literature review examines the effects of blended learning on student engagement, student achievement, and student perception in K-12th grade classrooms. Twenty-five peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2016 were selected for analysis in this review. The reviewed research indicates that student engagement, student achievement, and positive student perceptions of learning increased when blended learning was used. Students also developed additional skills through the use of blended learning, such as the ability to self-pace and self-direct. Future research into implementing blended learning in K-12 classrooms …

Play-Based Early Childhood Classrooms And The Effect On Pre-Kindergarten Social And Academic Achievement, Amy Mcginn

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to examine the effects of a play-based early childhood curriculum on the academic and social development of pre-kindergarten children. The findings in this literature review examine the relationships between free play, social skills, and academic outcomes in the early years of school. The reviewed research suggested a positive correlation between free play in early childhood and future school success in literacy and social development. The conclusion of this review includes recommendations for improving teacher practices and educational policies.

Technology And Young Children, Jamie Vircks

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined the purpose of technology use with young children. Examination of literature on effects of technology usage in the classroom, and ebook use to teach emergent literacy skills, was done. Insights showed that young children are learning more than just academic skills while using technology. They are learning cultural and social norms. In the classroom, children as young as three years old are being introduced to technology as a way to teach practice and reinforce new literacy skills. The review had mixed results as to whether technology use with young children to teach literacy skills is effective. Further …

Energy, Matter, And Change: A High School Chemistry Unit Development, Allison Schipper

Graduate Research Papers

The project I have chosen to focus on for the creative component of the Science Masters of Arts program is the creation of a high school chemistry instructional unit. The focus of this unit is on Energy, Matter, and Change, which is addressed in the Iowa Core/Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) (Lead States, 2013a ). This unit will be adapted using Unit 2, Energy Particles in Motion and Unit 3, Energy and States of Matter of the Modeling Instruction curriculum developed by the American Modeling Teachers Association (Modeling Instruction for High School Chemistry, 2017). The Energy Particles in Motion unit …

Impact Of Teacher Scientist Partnerships On High School Students' Perceptions Of Science, Kevin John Schneider

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There exist a multitude of global issues in the 21^st century that can be addressed with the scientific process. In response to these dilemmas, there are a number of education initiatives that aim to raise interest in science careers. This study provides an evaluation for one such effort. Over 200 students from 4 different high schools and 4 teachers were presented with a pre to post survey to measure the impact of Research Experience for Teachers (RET) curricula. High school science teachers participated in a research experience, created curriculum with a scientist, taught the content in their classrooms, and …

Anti-Proliferative Effect Of Hibernating American Bullfrog, Lithobates Catesbeianus, Blood Plasma On The Thp-1 Cells, Sean L. Robbins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Hibernation is a remarkable process that allows an organism to go dormant for long periods of time during the winter, when food is scarce and living conditions can be lethal. Much is unknown about the physiology behind hibernation, and most research comes from mammalian models. For example, it is known that during hibernation many of the cells in the body are impeded from going though mitosis but the mechanism that caused this was unknown. It was recently discovered that 13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) and woodchucks (Marmota monax) have a protein, alpha-2-macroglobulin, in their blood plasma, …

Reading Aloud To Tweens And Teens To Create Empathy: A Functional Criteria, Elizabeth Good

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was twofold: to develop criteria to analyze literature and determine if it would make a good classroom read aloud, then to apply this criteria to three young adult texts identified by Jen Scott Curwood's (2012) in Redefining Normal: A Critical Analysis of (Dis)ability in Young Adult Literature as appropriately depicting teens with disabilities to determine if they would make good classroom read aloud selections. The researcher developed seven criteria by which to judge texts and identified themes within the readings that encompassed the traits the studied texts all possessed in regard to the research questions. …

Visual Phonics : Its Impact As An Instructional Tool To Promote Literacy Development In Kindergarten Students, Lori J. Bower

Graduate Research Papers

This review of literature examined the impact of See The Sound/Visual Phonics (STSNP), a supplemental instructional strategy, on kindergarten students, especially those at risk for future reading challenges. STSNP is an instructional strategy originally designed for use with children who are deaf/hard of hearing, that utilizes the multi-sensory tool of gesture to focus on the development of phonemic awareness skills. Research reviewed for this study first examined the importance of phonemic awareness in overall literacy development. Additional studies reviewed establish support for the use of multi-sensory instructional approaches, including the specific use of gesture to help efficiently encode information. This …

The Effects Of Metolachlor Exposure On The Thp-1 Alveolar Monocyte And Macrophage Function, Jared S. Parmater

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The use of additive chemicals such as pesticides has become commonplace in agricultural practices in the Midwestern United States. Metolachlor, an herbicide used to regulate broadleaf weeds in corn and soybeans, is a widely utilized pesticide in the United States. This herbicide is effective in killing broadleaf weeds but has detrimental effects and consequences in non-target organisms. It is a frequent contaminant of ground water due to post application run-off and the air.

Inhalation constitutes one route of exposure, in addition to ingestion, adding to the list of unintended targets and consequences. This route of exposure creates an argument for …

Developmental Analysis Of Leea Guineensis (Leeaceae), Sally Gray

Honors Program Theses

Vitaceae is the grape family of flowering plants that is composed of twelve genera of woody plants (Jones et al., 2013). Vitis has been studied extensively for the commercial value of the fruit in the wine and grape production. However, not a lot of research has been done specifically on its basic biology such as leaf development within the family.

Understanding the basic biology of the plant can help with understanding its growth habit and help with improving the overall health of the plant. For example, analyzing flowers and leaves is a good way to draw inferences about developmental similarities …

Realizing Edgar: Eliminating Information Asymmetries Through Artificial Intelligence Analysis Of Sec Filings, Ryan H. Giarusso

Honors Program Theses

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) maintains a publicly-accessible database of all required filings of all publicly traded companies. Known as EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval), this database contains documents ranging from annual reports of major companies to personal disclosures of senior managers. However, the common user and particularly the retail investor are overwhelmed by the deluge of information, not empowered. EDGAR as it currently functions entrenches the information asymmetry between these retail investors and the large financial institutions with which they often trade. With substantial research staffs and budgets coupled to an industry standard of “playing …

The Effects Of Hibernation On The Time Of Coagulation Of The American Bullfrog, Rana Catesbeiana, Joshua Samec

Honors Program Theses

Cold conditions during winter months greatly reduce heart rate in ectothermic animals, such as bullfrogs, resulting in slow, intermittent blood flow. Slow or intermittent flow of blood often results in coagulation, yet the blood of these ectotherms fails to coagulate. In this study, the effects of the stages of hibernation from the onset of temperature decline, through the duration of constant low temperature exposure, was studied by observing the time of blood coagulation of American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) using activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). It was found that the time of coagulation increased incrementally along with the decreasing …

The Update, January-April 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

In this issue

-- CHAS Briefs
-- Alumni Spotlight - Mason Greer
-- Student Spotlight - Lucas Beving
-- Alumni Spotlight - Caleb Vander Wiel
-- Student Spotlight - Micayla Dawson
-- Department of Art Hearst Lecture Series
-- Communication Studies Digital Media Program
-- Computer Science National Cyber Defense Competition
-- Earth and Environmental Sciences Geo-Service Project
-- Faculty Spotlight Kyle Gray
-- Faculty Spotlight Suzanne Dripps Communication Sciences
-- Calendar of Events April - May

Biology News, Winter 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Biology.

Biology News

Contents:

--Greetings From the Department of Biology
--Department of Biology Alumni
--Kelly Bahl Interns at Epcot in Disney World
--Former Student, Susann Ahrabi-Fard, Working With the Zika Virus
--Department News
--Study Abroad Course to the Galapagos
--UNI Maintains Strength in Undergraduate Research
--Biology Faculty Incorporate Their Artistic Skills Into the Classroom and Publications
--Faculty Retirement
--Alumni In Residence
--University of Northern Iowa Awarded Grant Through the Roy J. Carver Foundation
--Reconnect With the Department of Biology
--You Can Make a Difference
--Scholarships and Funding

Certified Nonprofit Professionals Early Career Decisions And College Student Loan Debt, Kristina Elizabeth-Ann Kofoot

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In the United States today college students graduate with more than $35,000 in student loan debt (Berman, 2015). There is little research as to what the impact of this debt has had on the career choices and trajectories of these graduates particularly those considering entering the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector serves millions of people across the United States every year (National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2016). In order to stay current, these organizations need to hire highly qualified professionals. The Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) offers a professional credential to students that enter their program. This credential titled Certified Nonprofit …

Iowa Schoolmarms: The Significance Of Rural Schools And The Feminization Movement, 1865-1920, Ashley Nicole Loper

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Approximately twelve to fourteen thousand one-room schoolhouses occupied the Iowan landscape during the late nineteenth century. Rural schools possess a strong connection to the memories Iowans have of their state and have a particularly strong impact on women’s recollections. The state was established during the climax of the educational reformation led by Horace Mann and Catharine Beecher. Consequently, Iowa mostly negated schooling by religious leaders and developed public school systems almost immediately upon the state’s foundations. The majority of the people settling Iowa already contained firm beliefs on public education being accessible for all citizens. Women began entering the schoolhouse …

Sick Of Deviants: How The Behavioral Immune System May Impact Responses To Violated Norms, Neal G. Pollock

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In order to protect themselves from harmful pathogens, individuals have evolved a behavioral immune system (BIS) that is sensitive to disease cues (Schaller, 2006). At the cultural-level, there are variations in norms based on the prevalence of pathogens within a region (Schaller & Murray, 2008). Previous findings support the notion that the BIS promotes conformity (Murray & Schaller, 2012; Murray, Trudeau, & Schaller, 2011; Gelfand et al., 2011), as this produces an environment that is more protected against harmful pathogens. The current study attempted to provide experimental evidence for increased punishment for norm violations when the BIS was activated. Seventy-six …

A Qualitative Comparison Of General Chemistry And Advanced Placement Chemistry Students' Misconceptions Regarding Solution Chemistry, Megan J. Vandersee

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study focused on identifying misconceptions which high school AP and collegiate general chemistry students hold with regards to solution chemistry topics and comparing the misconceptions held by each student group. Previous research has found that misconceptions can greatly impact students’ understanding of material and have a negative impact on student learning. However, not all solution chemistry topics had been explored in previous research. In addition, it has been suggested that collegiate students have reached a higher level of cognitive development as they are older and more advanced in their studies. If this is the case, one could assume that …

Tpack Learning Activity Types For Secondary Computer Science Courses, Rebecca Carton

Graduate Research Papers

Learning activity types for secondary computer science courses support educators in integrating technology and developing their TPACK (technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge) authentically. The taxonomy of computer science activity types presented in this project report provide seven identified activity types and descriptions aligned with the Computer Science Teachers' Association (CSTA) standards and framework. Included in the taxonomy are possible technologies for each activity type. Along with the CSTA standards and framework, ten peer-reviewed studies published between 2009 and 2015 were selected for analysis in the literature review and as research backing the construction of the taxonomy. Further research and expansion …

The Effects Of Using Digital Tools To Support Writing In The Ell Classroom, Katrina Lint

Graduate Research Papers

Incorporating digital tools to support English writing instruction is a growing area of interest as technology advances and students become more submersed in it. This review addresses how social networks, specifically Facebook and Wiki, can be used to support writing to increase students’ writing skills as well as students’ perceptions and attitudes towards using these tools for writing. Peer-reviewed research studies published between 2008-2016 were selected for analysis. Results of these studies suggest that students have positive perceptions and attitudes towards using Facebook and Wiki for collaborative writing and results demonstrate these tools help improve students’ English as a second …

Vocabulary Matters : Why Vocabulary Instruction Is Important And How To Implement Quality Instruction In Preschool, Melanie Blocker

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined why vocabulary instruction is important in preschool, and ways that a teacher can implement quality vocabulary instruction into the classroom. The review describes why vocabulary instruction is crucial in preschool, and then provides five different ways that a teacher can implement vocabulary instruction into the preschool classroom. Vocabulary instruction is valuable as it builds the foundation for later reading skills, such as comprehension. The conclusion of this literature review provides recommendations on how to implement vocabulary instruction into preschools, educational policies, and teacher practices.

Benefits Of Movement For Academic Achievement And Classroom Behaviors, Alison A. Waltz

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review is to discuss the benefits of using movement throughout the daily routine of an early childhood classroom. The research focused on using movement to increase literacy and mathematics knowledge, teach self-regulation skills and increase attention. and have different seating options that would allow for consistent movement. Findings of this review show that movement does have academic and behavioral benefits in the early childhood classroom. Limitations are recognized for the research presented and recommendations are given for ways to incorporate movement into the classroom. To conclude this review of literature. educational policies and future research are …

Collaboration Between School And Public Librarians, Elizabeth Pearson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this descriptive study was to analyze and describe the collaborative relationships of teacher librarians and public librarians in one Iowa county. The research focused on how collaborative relationships are established between public and school libraries, what type of collaborations exist, what resources are shared, and what barriers to successful collaboration exist. This was a qualitative study using semistructured interviews with three public youth services librarians in two public libraries and two teacher librarians in two different districts in the same county. The findings included an overall desire to collaborate with other libraries in the area, but difficulty …

Anticipatory Reactions To Erotic Stimuli: An Exploration Into "Psychic" Ability, Margarita Meza

Honors Program Theses

The current study investigated psi ability (precognition) based on Bem’s (2011) experiments. The study used a computer-based program that tested for the prediction of erotic stimuli via erotic and non-erotic images. Sensation seeking and cortisol were explored as moderators of psi ability. Participants provided saliva samples at the beginning and end of the study for a measure of cortisol. It was predicted that participants would detect the future position of erotic images significantly more than they would by chance and more than non-erotic images. Additionally, it was predicted that those who scored high in sensation seeking would have greater psi …

Differential Gene Expression Analysis Of Metolachlor Treated Human Liver Cells By Microarray, Navinder Paul Kaur Brar

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Metolachlor is one of the most common pre-emergent pesticides used by Iowa farmers. It is used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses in the fields of corn and soybean. It is a frequent contaminant of groundwater and surface water due to runoff after application. It has been shown to inhibit protein and chlorophyll synthesis in plant cells, but its effect on mammalian cells has not been consistently conclusive. As metolachlor and other herbicides have been shown to be associated with harmful health effects in non-target organisms it is very important to determine a mechanism of action on non-target cells, especially …

Trying To Fit In With The Weird Parts Of The Internet: Online Subcultures And Content Creation, Isak Fedeler Knivsland

Honors Program Theses

Creating my thesis project has been quite a journey - perhaps a longer and more tedious journey than I anticipated, but rewarding nonetheless. Starting this project in the fall, I simply had the goal of making cool music, producing videos to accompany it, and getting some people to watch it. This is much easier said than done, however.

In my head, this was to be a pretty straightforward project. I had made electronic music before and had been improving at it. I had edited some videos, though not for a few years. And I had experimented with marketing content. The …