Digital Commons Network^™

Thermopile Sensor Imaging System, Sumit Joshi

Graduate Research Papers

With vastly growing technologies various sensing devices have emerged, which can be used with a microcontroller to provide mobility and ease for various sensing applications. This paper is focused to interface a thermopile sensor (HTPA8x8dL2. l/0.8) with a Raspberry Pi 3.

The thermopile array acquires thermal image data and communicates with a Raspberry Pi 3 via an 12C (Inter Integrated Circuit) interface. On the Raspberry Pi 3 side the data stream is logged and then transferred to a personal computer (PC). Finally, the thermal image data are visualized in the PC with MATLAB, a scientific computing software. In summary, the …

Capital Equipment Procurement Process And Integration Into Production, Mike A. Borwig

Graduate Research Papers

This paper defines roles and responsibilities for personnel while purchasing capital machine equipment to integrate into production to make machined components to be used in assembly operations. This paper, along with internal support documents the necessary tasks to be completed to ensure the project's success while maintaining delivery, cost, and the quality of product is preserved. Once a project charter is accepted, roles and responsibilities to support groups are assigned. Roles & responsibilities are established to ensure proper knowledge of machine purchase prior to the purchase order being release. This allows all organizations to input their requirements to ensure delivery …

Improving Machine Utilization With Rfid Technology During The Acquisition Of A Large Capital Equipment Purchase, Richard Price

Graduate Research Papers

This is the executive summary which includes large capital equipment justification, research and implementation of material flow, container design/management, process quality verification, and an asset tracking system for perishable tooling. This project requires working with cross-functional teams as well has heavy upfront planning to be successful. This is a moderately risky project with a high reward if successfully completed. The risk could severely damage the reputation of the company on a part quality basis.

This project is to research machine tools to understand the potential to improve the process for indirect cutter grinding tools as well as increase machine utilization …

Blended Learning In Credit Recovery, Robin Kuhn

Graduate Research Papers

This project is to create a blended learning module for students who need to recover course credit in order to stay on track to graduate on time from a small rural district with limited teachers and face-to-face time. This project will eliminate the need for the district to pay for online credit recovery services and help avoid scheduling issues that may prevent completion of the high school curriculum by students who fail a class. The project will be tested with students within the district and, if successful, will be implemented for all students who need to recover course credit.

Blended Learning And Second Language Acquisition In The Classroom, Victoria R. Hamilton

Graduate Research Papers

This review investigates using a blended learning environment within a second language setting. The literature review presented three main themes to be considered as these two contexts were united: learner engagement in differing environments and with different activities, learner perceptions, and the outcomes found from such combinations. Twenty-eight peer-reviewed journal articles were analyzed. It is found that blended environments seem to add novelty and increase motivation and engagement of students in these settings. However, the pedagogical implementation of active learning such as collaboration, providing feedback, and using activities that have a communicative purpose seems to yield the best results. Learner …

The Wright Message, 2018-2019, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside This Issue:
--New Faculty Faculty Spotlight Around Wright Hall
--Alumni Spotlight In Memoriam: Jack Wilkinson
--News from the CTLM
--Student Spotlights
--Donor Spotlight
--Alumni Updates
--Contributions to an Account – Recognition
--Department Funds
--Contribution Form

Selecting A Software Development Methodology Based On Project Characteristics, Semir Music

Graduate Research Papers

Methodologies used for developing software include procedures, techniques, tools, and documentation, to help every stage of the development process. A number of software development methodologies exist, all with their own characteristics, features, advantages, and disadvantages. This paper presents information on some of the more popular methodologies, and the ones most frequently used in today's software development world. The reviewed methodologies in this paper include waterfall, spiral, agile and its subsets, and hybrid. Research and information gathering phase in this study was conducted by performing a thorough literature review of a variety of different sources. Following the introduction of each methodology, …

Exploring The Experiences Of Adolescent Students Attending A Virtual School, Allan G. Nelson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In the past 20 years distance education has evolved rapidly. The accessibility to online learning or virtual schools has become a viable option for many students. Virtual schools offer students instructional flexibility regarding time, place, and pace.

Improvements in distance education fostered rapid growth of online learning. The number of online learners grew nearly ten-fold from 2001 to 2015 (Clark, 2001; Watson et al., 2015). However, Watson (2016) estimated only 10% of online learners represented full-time virtual school students. Although face-to-face instruction is preferred by most K-12 learners, some learners argued their needs were best met by virtual schools (Green, …

Study Of Low Dose Nitrite Stress On Human Mononuclear Cells: An In-Vitro Case-Control Study On Osteoarthritis, Junu Shrestha

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Nitrate, (NOR 3RP - P) is an oxidized form of nitrogen and it is an integral part of the nitrogen cycle in the natural environment. Nitrates are extensively used in agricultural practices as fertilizers, applied as either animal manures or derived slurries or as chemical fertilizers in the form of ammonium nitrate. Most of the toxicologically relevant nitrate enters the human body through consumption of vegetables, fruits, processed food products, and drinking water. In the ground water system, nitrates are a problematic and widespread contaminant, especially in agricultural areas such as the Midwest, South, and Northeastern U.S. Low-levels of nitrate …

Imágenes De Identidad: Student Expressions Of Identity And Culture In The College Spanish Classroom, Elizabeth Bair

Honors Program Theses

When one seeks to learn another language, they have the opportunity to not only acquire a new form of communication but also invest and participate in a rich culture. Unfortunately, in many of today’s world language classrooms, learning about target cultures, or the cultures of the peoples who speak the language to be acquired, is treated as being of lesser importance than acquiring new structures and vocabulary. What is more, it is especially rare that students are invited to bring their own cultures and identities into the classroom conversation. In today’s climate, it is vital that students have a safe …

A Narrative Study: Utilizing Personal Strengths To Manage Foreign Language Anxiety, Lauren Anderson

Honors Program Theses

Foreign language anxiety develops when a student feels under pressure or uncomfortable in a foreign language-learning situation often because they are cognizant of their inability to project themselves in their target language as they do in their first. As a result, students may become nervous or overwhelmed and fear speaking in the target language. Many researchers and educators have recommended strategies to help students manage their foreign language anxiety. To continue expanding on these ideas, the purpose of this research is to investigate whether focusing on and using personal strengths will mitigate students’ foreign language anxiety and help improve their …

Spatial Disparities And Socio-Economic Conditions : A Food Desert Analysis Of Greater Des Moines, Iowa, David Jensen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Current research suggests that socioeconomic makeup of geographic areas within a city has implications on location and accessibility of food retail stores. Disadvantaged areas with relatively poor access to healthy and affordable food are what literature has identified as “food deserts”. The purpose of this research is to explore the relationships between geographic areas with relatively low socioeconomic characteristics and food stores within the greater Des Moines, Iowa area. By way of survey, grocery and convenience stores are measured on their healthy food quality, advertisements, and other factors. GIS techniques are then used to measure accessibility to stores by low …

Live Thy Neighbor, Milica Njezic

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This project explored the concept of neighboring from the cultural perspectives of the Bosnian refugees and the researcher who is Bosnian herself. The goals were to answer several research questions: (1) what kinds of tensions do we battle in liminal spaces and how do they, grounded in culture, shape the way we communicate our roles as neighbors, (2) how do Bosnian immigrants perform neighboring, (3) what constitutes a good neighbor, and (4) what are the researcher’s personal stories and are those experiences shared with others? The author argues that neighboring is something we perform, that Bosnian co-participants show unconditional hospitality …

The Food Babe Fearmonger: Transcending Spheres Of Argument Through The Dual Use Of Personal And Pseudo-Technical Expertise, Abigail Shew

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis examines the public figure Vani Hari, aka The Food Babe, and her influence on public dialogue about food, nutrition, and diet. Using the theoretical framework of spheres of argument as originally described by G. Thomas Goodnight, this thesis analyzes Food Babe as an expert within the personal, technical, and public spheres. Both verbal and visual arguments will be considered throughout the analysis of Food Babe as both a personal sphere rhetor and pseudo-technical expert. This thesis argues that Food Babe simultaneously uses personal sphere evidence and argumentative strategies to legitimize herself as a pseudo-technical expert within the technical …

Student Engagement In Higher Education: Measuring The Differences In Community Engagement, Stanley S. Ebede

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In U.S. education system, the growing gap in the engagement of various groups and types of students is wider than ever (Darling-Hammond, 2015). Therefore, there is a need to bridge the gap in engagement by ensuring that either personal or social circumstances such as gender, student status, ethnic groups etc. are not obstacles to achieving educational potential in higher education (Williams & Whiting, 2016; Greene, Marti, & McClenney, 2008; McClenney & Marti, 2006). Using both longitudinal and cross-sectional perspectives advocated by Fuller, Wilson and Tobin (2011); Gordon, Ludlum, and Hoey (2008); and Astin and Lee (2003), this study examined students’ …

A Song To Remember : The Effects Of Music Therapy On Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease, Gabrielle Woods

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this creative thesis is to communicate the effects MT and music being used therapeutically can have on three residents in the midstage of dementia caused by AD. Residents from Thalman Square Memory Care Unit at Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls, Iowa and Parker Place Retirement Community in Parkersburg, Iowa participated in the exploration of this project. Three participants’ personal responses to music were recorded and made into a video documentary. This unique video contribution encapsulated each resident’s raw emotion and experience to impart the benefits of music interventions for caregivers and the general public’s understanding.

Embracing New Experiences: Young Adult Literature About The Immigrant Experience, Ashley Hoppenjan

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to identify themes in quality young adult realistic fiction about the immigrant experience in the United States. The researcher questioned which themes are evident in young adult immigrant literature. To pursue this information, the researcher analyzed highly recommended young adult realistic fiction published from 2000 to 2017. Twelve novels were selected, read, and coded. After the first reading, two novels were eliminated; therefore, ten novels are reported. Analysis revealed six themes including: causes of immigration, assimilation, perseverance, identity, socioeconomic status, and stereotypes.

A Literature Review Examining The Best Practices Of Volunteer Programs, Cara K. Reilly

Graduate Research Papers

Many organizations utilize volunteers and understand the countless benefits they add to an organization. Volunteers provide essential services in a cost-effective manner, connect organizations to the community, engage in promotional activities and many more helpful activities. The national value of volunteer's worth per hour is estimated at $23.56 (Independent Sector, 2016). However, one must know that a quantifiable value placed on a person's skill, time, and effort is complicated. Volunteers' worth and services exceed any monetary value.

Volunteer coordinators can measure the success of their volunteer programs by their retention rates. Keeping a high retention rate is important to any …

Representations Of Health And Wellness In Children's Literature, Emily Kate Murphy

Honors Program Theses

The term health is multifaceted. Health can refer to one’s physical, spiritual, or mental state, among other things. The goal of this study was to determine how educators can use children’s literature to support students being introduced to healthy habits regarding these aspects at a young age, through children’s literature. A content analysis was conducted over a selection of 16 children’s literature texts. It was organized by thematic categories matching the aforementioned facets of health and assessed through a Likert scale. This analysis resulted in the development of a website intended to serve as a tool for teachers to implement …

Information Literacy: Expectations Of High School Students In Joint Enrollment Courses, Steven Witmer

Graduate Research Papers

Dual enrollment students are in a unique position where they are simultaneously high school students and college students. This study investigated the information literacy expectations for dual enrollment students by analyzing the language of six course syllabi used in dual enrollment Composition courses. The research questions investigated included what the course syllabi communicated about information literacy skills, library resources, and institutional and high school libraries and librarians.

While the sample of six course syllabi reviewed for this study was relatively small, it is clear that instructors have high expectations of their students and expect them to produce college-level writing and …

An Investigation Of Early Childhood Outdoor Play Areas And Social And Emotional Play, Brandy A. Smith

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The earliest early childhood programs were thought of as a garden for children or kindergarten (Snider, 1900). The father of kindergarten, Frederick Froebel (1885), considered the garden space critical in early childhood programs. While there is an understanding of the importance of outdoor play for young children, many current issues and challenges have drastically reduced the amount of time children spend in the outdoor environment (Kuh, Ponte, & Chau, 2013). Much of the time children do spend outside is devoted to physical movement, often in environments with traditional manufactured playground equipment (Czalczynska-Podolska, 2014). Outdoor play holds potential for multi-dimensional (Nedovic …

Steam Programming (Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics) Applications For Camp Adventure Child And Youth Services, Shannon Boseneiler

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to create a STEM/STEAM working resource for Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services TM (CACYS) in order to provide effective programming for summer day camp programs. Currently, there is a lack of STEM and STEAM resources for CACYS. STEM education is defined by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education whereas STEAM education includes the integration of art education. This study will use Action Research in order to review and analyze a variety of successful STEM/STEAM programs. Elements from these programs will be incorporated into the resource for CACYS. Effective teaching strategies will also be …

Participant Reflections On Gambling Treatment Services, Cade Olmstead, Abigail Cobb

Undergraduate Student Work

The Iowa Gambling Treatment Outcomes Monitoring System is an ongoing project implemented by the UNI-CSBR for the purpose of assessing the extent to which state-sponsored problem gambling treatment services are associated with positive outcomes for clients. This study used six-month follow-up questionnaire data from 2013 to 2017 for those Iowans who received gambling treatment services from state licensed providers regarding their perception and opinions of services received while in treatment.

Corruption In Public Education, Cade M. Olmstead

Undergraduate Student Work

Public education is a key civil institution, and its functions have important implications for the well-being and development any modern society. But as a public institution, it is not free from crime and corrupt influence, especially in areas dealing with monetary exchange. Much research has been conducted looking at corruption, but investigations and analyses specifically concerned with corruption in education are sparse. Inquiries into the state of corruption in the former Soviet bloc and China are present but research into the United States’ situation has hitherto been neglected. Reliable data must first be identified before such analyses can take place. …

Moving Words: Building Community Through Service-Learning In The Arts, Anne Marie Gruber, Angela L. Pratesi, Angela Waseskuk

Library Faculty/Staff Publications

In this unique project, college students in a first-year Three-Dimensional Concepts art course are partnered with a local youth writing project to create short films based on participants’ writings. This experience was born out of a campus Service-Learning Institute (SLI) to train faculty on best practices. The mutual goals included giving voice to area youth and connecting college students to the community. All participants explored and reflected on the importance of community engagement and citizenship by acknowledging their similarities and differences through creative lenses.

Participants from both groups generated ideas through shared journal exercises that the youth writers then used …

Perceived Causes And Methods Of Examination Malpractice In The Malawian Education System: A Case Study Of Secondary Schools In South East Education Division (Seed), Fiddelis Blessings Makaula

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived causes and methods of examination malpractice in the Malawian education system.

University Of Northern Iowa Graduate Program Survey 2017-2018, Megan Vogt-Kostner

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

In 2017-2018, the Graduate Program Survey was administered by the University of Northern Iowa's Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness using the online survey tool, Qualtrics. The purpose of the study was to gain feedback about the educational experiences of UNI graduates. The survey results help the university provide a better graduate experience for future students.

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2017/2018, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Some Comparisons
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Degrees Granted 2017/18
--- Degree Summary 2017/18
--- Program Certificates 2017/18
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree and Racial/Ethnic Classification

Deception And Discourse: Introduction To The Special Issue, Rachel Collier Murdock

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Emerging Adults' Parent-Child Privacy Management Surrounding Topics Of Career, Religion, And Politics, Maria Butauski

Iowa Journal of Communication

Guided by communication privacy management theory (Petronio, 2002), this study highlights the role of emerging adults' perceptions of parents' behaviors in discussions of career, religion, and politics in their management of the parent-child privacy boundary. Parental behaviors perceived as supportive were associated with more openness and less topic avoidance when discussing career, religion, and politics. However, parental behaviors perceived as interference or neglect were associated with less openness and more topic avoidance across the topics addressed Findings and directions for future research are discussed