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Proceedings Of The 124th Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science [Program, 2012], Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contents:

Program Summary --- 2-3
Acknowledgements --- 4
Contents --- 5
Iowa Junior Academy of Science Competition --- 6
EPIC-AIMS Reception --- 7
General Session I --- 8
Iowa Junior Academy of Science Award Luncheon --- 9
Iowa Academy of Science Business Meeting --- 9
Necrology --- 9
Iowa Academy of Science Chairs and Vice Chairs for 2011-2012 --- 10
Symposium A --- 11
Symposium B --- 12
Symposium C --- 13
Speaker Biographies --- 14-17
Senior Poster Session Program --- 18-19
Social Hour --- 20
President's Banquet --- 20
General Session II --- 21
General Session III --- 22 …

Multicultural Picture Books: Windows And Mirrors, Dawn M. Goodale

Graduate Research Papers

Multicultural children’s picture books offer readers views into far away places that can be similar or very different from that of the reader. These picture books can be used to enhance the Social Studies curriculum by offering students new perspectives on other cultures. The researcher employed the five dimensions of global perspectives developed by Robert G. Hanvey (1976) and criteria from the Iowa Core Curriculum Social Studies Standards (grades 3-5), to determine the titles that best exemplified the criteria. Review of related literature included the topics of multicultural education, multicultural literature and reader-text-relationships. The project consists of an annotated bibliography …

Expression Of Cadherin-11 During Organogenesis In The Chick Embryo, Kacie D. Flaherty, Alicia F. Paulson, Ashley L. Adamson, Darrell J. Wiens

Faculty Work

Cadherin-11 (cad-11) is primarily a mesenchymal cadherin that appears in delaminating neural crest cells. Its expression correlates with morphogenetic events and the pattern has been studied in mouse, rat and Xenopus embryos, but not during avian organogenesis. Our purpose was to investigate this pattern in the chick embryo during organogenesis using immunolocalization and in situ hybridization. Cad-11 was expressed in mesenchyme around the pharynx and aortic arches, eyes, auditory vesicles, lung buds, stomach, and nasal placodes. Neural expression included some cranial ganglia and also new neuroepithelium within the tail bud region undergoing secondary neurulation. We also found expression in epithelia …

2012 Malcolm Price Elementary School - Nu Middle School Yearbook, Malcolm Price Laboratory School

Malcolm Price Laboratory School Yearbooks

The 2012 student yearbook of the middle & elementary schools of the Malcolm Price Laboratory School of the University of Northern Iowa.

Geomes (Geoscience Educational Opportunities For Motivating Every Student), Jody Stone

K-12 Curriculum Supplements

The intent of the GEOMES materials is to provide earth science teachers with resources and strategies that will generate interest and enthusiasm among students and teachers for the study of earth science. So there you have it—Geoscience Educational Opportunities for Motivating Every Student (GEOMES). The study of earth science should provide individuals with understandings that prepare them to make more intelligent decisions on processing issues. It should provide students with insights that make the interpretation of events in their environment more meaningful.

The format of the teaching strategies employed in the GEOMES program is designed to attract the student's interest …

Fifth Graders' Discussions Of Graphic Novels Facilitated By De Bono Thinking Skills, Kimberly Ann Jennings

Graduate Research Papers

The effectiveness of graphic novels, heavily illustrated novels and traditional novels as a reading teaching tool has not been heavily researched. During the 5th grade school year of the 2011-2012, 24 students were required to read six novels, two in each format. During and after the reading, students were required to complete assigned assessments. The results of the study were graded based on a rubric system and by the number of responses per novel. The graphic novel received the highest scores in all categories. The graphic novel should be considered as an alternate method of teaching reading to 5th graders.

Leadership Of Identified Gifted Compared To High-Potential Students Studying Iowa's Natural History, Katie E. Broeg

Graduate Research Papers

At one time, students were only considered gifted if they received a score of 140 or higher on an IQ test. Renowned gifted researcher, Joseph Renzulli, challenged this notion with his three-ring conception of giftedness; an interaction between above average ability, creativity, and task-commitment in areas of passion. Renzulli also promoted the development of leadership and social capital through Operation Houndstooth.

Today, the national definition for gifted children acknowledges academics, leadership, arts, and creative talents. Schools are beginning to expand their definitions and identification procedures to acknowledge students with creative talents and leadership abilities. How do these students compare when …

Implementing Electronic Storybooks And The Effects On Reading Achievement At The Elementary Level, Chelsey Heidemann

Graduate Research Papers

Electronic storybooks are an innovative way to support the reading needs of students today. This literature review discusses the positive and negative effects electronic storybooks have on students' reading abilities. It focuses specifically on word accuracy, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Examples and information were taken from published journal a1ticles found through online databases and books. The review concludes that electronic storybooks can have a positive effect on a student's reading ability when using an electronic storybook that meets the needs of the learner.

Teachers' Perceptions Of Skills Needed For Children's Entry Into Kindergarten, Jessica Blohm

Graduate Research Papers

Kindergarten readiness is an ever-increasing topic in the field of early education among educators. Research has indicated that children learn better if parents, preschool and kindergarten teachers' expectations are aligned. The purpose of this project is to understand local preschool and kindergarten teachers' perceptions of skills needed for children's entry into kindergarten. Teachers from two school districts and local preschools and daycares will be surveyed using the local Head Start Kindergarten Readiness Goals. Information gained will potentially lead to modifications in curriculum and learning goals for children, aid in professional development practices for teachers, and better prepare children in the …

Identifying U.S. First Ladies Involved With Child And Youth Serving Organizations, Greta A. Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to identify how U.S. First Ladies have significantly impacted child or youth programs and causes. This will cover six First Ladies from the 1900's to the present which include: 1) Lou Hoover; 2) Lady Bird Johnson; 4) Nancy Reagan; 3) Barbara Bush; 5) Laura Bush; and 6) Michelle Obama.

Multicultural Boards: An Examination Of The Pertinent Literature Of The Understanding Of An Individual’S Roles Serving On An International Nonprofit Board Of Directors, Carrie E. Radloff

Graduate Research Papers

An increase in the number of international nonprofits has necessitated the need for inclusion of culturally, socio-economically, and gender diverse board members. Existing literature shows that board members in different organizations understand their roles differently and therefore affect their performance on the board of directors as well as the performance of the board of directors as a whole. This paper is a literature review to establish how individual members of nonprofits understand their roles and whether diversity has an influence on their understanding of their roles. Also examined is the board's performance as influenced by diversity, as well as the …

Misconceptions In Science Education, Angela Francis

Graduate Research Papers

Like many science teachers today, I am a constructivist. I believe that students need to be active constructors of their own knowledge. I also understand that, prior to entering my classroom, students have had innumerable experiences that have led them to develop their own unique understanding of the natural world. This reality has certain advantages and disadvantages. One critical disadvantage is that students' prior knowledge and common-sense understandings about science can be at odds with the nature of science that is generally accepted within the scientific community. In order to be an effective teacher, I must identify and understand the …

Forensic Science: An Applied Chemistry Single Semester Course, Theresa A. Theis

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Professional Development For The Library Para Educator: Developing A Guide To Answer Questions About School Libraries In The 21st Century, Tifini Foglesong

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a manual for new and existing library paraprofessionals as well as administrators who coordinate teacher librarian professional inservice days. This information will provide content for library paraprofessionals to understand both the procedures and principles of school libraries.

Try To See Me As Me: Understanding Autism In Children's Literature, Brandee Roelfs

Graduate Research Papers

Autism diagnosis is growing each year. While the diagnosis is growing, the information available for elementary children is. The purpose of this project is to create a children's book that will enhance student's understanding of autism in their peers. Research questions guide this study:

1. What should be the nature of the characters and storyline in a fiction book that educates children about autism?

2. What particular information about autism should be interwoven into a fictional story featuring autism?

This children's book created is for elementary students, targeted to grades second and third. The book compares a brother to his …

Boy's Recreational Reading In A One-To-One Computer School, Michaela Seeman

Graduate Research Papers

High school boys are often not motivated to read when required, let alone read for enjoyment. With the use of advanced technology provided through a one-to-one computer educational setting and resources, high school boys may have a different approach and attitude to reading for enjoyment.

The purpose of this study was to examine what high school boys chose to read, print and electronic, for enjoyment in an Iowa one-to-one computer educational setting. The questions asked in this research study included:

1. What topics do high school boys spend time investigating? What resources do they use?

2. How do high school …

Library And Technology Combined Curriculum For Kindergarten/First Grade Common Core, Dyann K. Vilez

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create for Kindergarten and first grade students a curriculum that incorporated library and technology skills to make sure that each student was getting the knowledge and instruction in these areas that they need to become successful.

The standards, benchmarks, objectives, and skills in the following documents were referenced when creating this curriculum; American Association of School Librarians (AASL), Norwalk Community School District Literacy, Common Core English Language Arts, International Society for Technology/National Educational Technology Standards (ISTE/NETS), Norwalk Community School District Technology Standards and the Norwalk Community School District Technology Skills List. This project …

Social Bookmarking In The Classroom, Sara Richardson

Graduate Research Papers

The vast amount of content on the Internet causes complications when struggling to tame it. The purpose of this literature review is to uncover the viability of social bookmarking for managing Internet content for classroom learning. It also reveals how collaboration in social bookmarking can increase its effectiveness in the classroom and how social bookmarking models best facilitate learning. Sources researched were published in the last seven years, when social bookmarking started to become widely recognized. Studies in the areas of content organization, searching, collaboration, and education were reviewed. The conclusions acknowledge social bookmarking as not a replacement for, but …

Early Algona: A Digital Story, Kathy Bottaro

Graduate Research Papers

The 1986 classic teen movie, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off' contains a scene that is all too familiar in today's high school classrooms. The history/economics teacher is addressing a classroom full of seemingly comatose students: In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the effects of the ... anyone? anyone? the Great Depression, passed the ... anyone? anyone? the tariff bill? The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act? Which, anyone? Raised or lowered? ... raised tariffs, in an effort to collect more revenue for the federal government. Did it work? Anyone? Anyone know the effects? It did not work, and …

Cursed: An Experiment In Gender Roles In Video Game Concept Art, Gillian Renk

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this project was to create a game concept, in the form of an art book, that featured characters who play somewhat nontraditional, reversed roles as an experiment in gender equality in video games. This was mainly done with a slant toward women, as women are becoming a larger part of the gaming community and, as such, may seek games that are more aligned with their own interests. Character designs were done with the individuals' roles in mind as well as how their appearances would make the player sympathetic toward them. For instance, as explained in an article …

Using Ecological Niche Modeling To Resolve Cryptic Taxa Within The Greenside Darter Species Complex, Jack Alphonse Kosmicki

Honors Program Theses

A major challenge for systematists is clearly identifying species early after a speciation event (Frost and Kluge, 1994; Wiens and Servedio, 2000; Coyne and Orr, 2004). Traditionally species delimitation is made based on morphological characteristics, behavioral differences, and/or genetic data. However, for cryptic species lineages, these approaches do not work as well because the lineages have subtle overlapping morphological and behavioral differences and lineage sorting may not be complete (Raxworthy et al., 2007). A far less common approach is to use ecological niche models (ENMs) to help identify new species. This approach holds strong potential for cryptic species in which …

Lost In Translation: In Search Of The "Real" "Wulf And Eadwacer", John Anderson

Honors Program Theses

In this thesis, I seek to uncover the nature of translation through examining those elements of "Wulf and Eadwacer" that work against producing a definitive translation. Using the combined lenses of literary analysis and the philosophy of language, I will also investigate the ties between translation and interpretation inherent in this work and what we can learn about the project of translation in general, ultimately arriving at my own re-presentation of the text. I will then briefly consider how this can inform our approaches to translations of other texts, in particular our understanding of translations of the Bible, one of …

Pulling Back The Veil On Stem Cell Research: The Generation Of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells As An Alternative To Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Sara Ternes

Honors Program Theses

Stem cell research has captured the imagination of many in society, and although it holds hope for repairing the human body, curing disease, and alleviating human suffering, the effects of this pioneering technology present profound ethical and legal implications. While a general consensus exists that the use of adult stem cells is ethically and morally just, embryonic stem (ES) cell research has generated significant debate in both the scientific and legal communities. Decades of legislation and policymaking have led to the creation of a set of human subject research principles that are now well recognized and rooted in the inherent …

Determining The Virulence Of Corn Pathogen Fusarium Verticillioides Utilizing Deletion Mutants Lacking Genes Fv_00027 Or Fv_Nps6, Abigail Zieman

Honors Program Theses

Fusarium verticillioides is an important fungal pathogen of com. Many pathogens have virulent genes which are genes that increase infectivity of the pathogen. After a bioinformatics study, it was determined that genes Fv _ 00027 and Fv _ NPS6 are potential virulent genes in F. verticillioides. To determine if either gene ·contributes to the virulence of the fungus, deletion mutants of F. verticillioides were created lacking either Fv _ 00027 or Fv _ NPS6 genes. These deletion mutants were utilized in an optimized com assay to determine the effect of infectivity on com. To test these deletion mutants, com seeds …

Morphological Variation Among Populations Of Uca Rapax In The Gulf Of Mexico And Northern Caribbean, Amanda L. Brase

Honors Program Theses

This study explores the relationship between phenotypic variation in the carapace morphology and the geographic distribution of Uca rapax population in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the Northern Caribbean Sea. Carapace or body shape in 37 populations is analyzed quantitatively and correlated with two habitat variables: salinity and location. Although there is morphological overlap among populations grouped by habitat, they are significantly different when sorted by geographic region. Populations from the northern and western Gulf of Mexico diverge from those in Florida, the Yucatan and the northern Caribbean implying restricted larval dispersal and/or differential habitat selection.

School Library Circulation Records: What Do They Reveal About Boys' Reading Preferences?, Chelsea Sims

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine what if any patterns emerge in the library checkout habits of elementary school age boys in consecutive grades and to compare them to common assumptions of which books boys prefer to read. A quantitative bibliometric method was used to analyze and count the circulation records of forty-four students over a three year period. The circulations to the boys in the study were compared to the circulations to the girls. Records revealed that on average, boys in third grade borrowed more books than the girls in the study, but girls selected more books …

Vocabulary Acquisition In Preschool English Language Learners, Leann Perkins

Graduate Research Papers

English-language learners are filling preschool classrooms across the country in classrooms where teachers are ill-prepared to teach them the English language. Teachers need support in knowing and understanding what current approaches are being used and what strategies are most effective to develop English vocabulary acquisition and help these learners succeed. Research articles are discussed and summarized, resulting in an analysis of how well preschool ELLs may or may not learn English vocabulary. A conclusion discusses the results and suggestions are given for classroom teachers.

Communiqué: College Of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine,Volume 1 Winter 2012, Humanities And Arts Edition, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts, And Sciences.

Communiqué: College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine

Contents:

-- Dean's Message
-- Voices Come Alive
-- Public Art Incubator
-- CHAS Applause
-- Transitions
-- UNI Reaccredited by Higher Learning commission
-- News in Short
-- Students in the News
-- Death holds the key to how we live
-- A Special Budget Message From the Dean
-- Elevate and Inspire: The Youds Challenge
-- Panther Marching Band: The Real Deal
-- Wise Broadway Tour Earns Rave Reviews
-- Conversations with two UNI Grads
-- Faculty Outside the Classroom
-- Theatre Program Opens Possibilities for Youth on the Autism Spectrum
-- Alumni News
-- UNI Alumni Pay …

Biology News, Winter 2012, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Biology.

Biology News

Contents:

-- Greetings from the Biology Department
-- Focus on UNI Biology Alumni
-- Let us hear from you...
-- Science Teacher Pays it Forward
-- Reconnect with the Department of Biology
-- Taiwan exchange program - year one a success!
-- Dr. Steve O'Kane and Dr. John Ophus receive Dean's Awards
-- Field Research in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
-- Biology receives grant from Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust
-- Dr. Peter Berendzen receives State Wildlife Grant
-- Seed Grants from the UNI-Office of Sponsored Research
-- Focus on UNI Biology Students
-- Pre-Med Club
-- Student Nature …

The Inverted Classroom : A Literature Review, Jennie Kies

Graduate Research Papers

Teachers struggle to thoroughly educate students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related fields. This literature review examines the current research on STEM education, learning theories, and the effects of an inverted classroom on student learning in STEM classes in order to determine the possible benefits of implementation at pre-collegiate levels. Lacking research at the high school level, this paper focuses on articles describing inverted, college level STEM classes. This study indicates that further research is needed at both the high school and college level to prove that inverted classes result in improved learning and student retention; it also …