Digital Commons Network^™

Virtual Field Trips, Jill R. Stannard

Graduate Research Papers

This review focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of virtual field trips and the lack of hands-on experience vs. traveling virtually through the World Wide Web. This study concentrates on the use of virtual field trips for students inside the classroom. Several descriptions of advantages and disadvantages are reflected in this review to provide a credible implementation in exploring the world. This can be done without even going outside or spending a lot of money, through virtual field trips which can be materialized inside the classroom without going farther from the school. This paper defines the qualities of an effective …

Hidden Alphabet On The Farm: Can You Find It? : A Research Project, Sandra Greufe

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to introduce young children to agriculture and provide a new and interesting way of looking at the alphabet. Researching the use of alphabet books to introduce children to agriculture shows that presenting the alphabet in a new and exciting way is beneficial to teaching children the alphabet (Norton, 2007). Studies show the movement of people to urban areas corresponds with decreased knowledge of agriculture ( AFBF A, 2006c). Hidden Alphabet on the Farm: Can You Find It? presents the alphabet to young children in a new and exciting way and teaches children about …

Rigor, Relevance, And Authentic Learning: A Quest To Align Projects And Activities With The Dubuque Community School District Information Literacy Standards., Cindy K. Wagner

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project is to create a database ofK-12 activities and projects submitted by and accessible to teacher librarians to assist in supporting the DCSD curriculum in all subject areas taught jointly with the AASL 21^st Century Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.

Creating Units For Second Grade Learners Of English As A Foreign Language, Laura Elizabeth Messerly

Honors Program Theses

Teaching English as a Foreign Language is becoming more popular as English is in high demand in countries throughout the world because of globalization (Niklov, 2006). The chief difference between English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) is that the language is being learned in a non-English speaking community (.EFL) versus an English speaking community (ESL). These non-English speaking communities are being affected by multinational corporations. As businesses grow and globalize, flourishing across continents, factories and branches are sprouting up in places all over the world. Technology, too, has contributed to the spread of …

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Potential West Nile Virus Vector Mosquito Species In Iowa, Scott R. Larson, John P. Degroote, Lyric C. Bartholomay, Ramanathan Sugumaran

Faculty Work

Ecological niche modeling (ENM) algorithms, Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling (Maxent) and Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Prediction (GARP), were used to develop models in Iowa for three species of mosquito – two significant, extant West Nile virus (WNV) vectors (Culex pipiens L and Culex tarsalis Coquillett (Diptera: Culicidae)), and the nuisance mosquito, Aedes vexans Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae), a potential WNV bridge vector. Occurrence data for the three mosquito species from a state-wide arbovirus surveillance program were used in combination with climatic and landscape layers. Maxent successfully created more appropriate niche models with greater accuracy than GARP. The three Maxent species’ …

Making It Happily Ever After: Rectifying The Inherent Contradiction Between Suicide And Hollywood Endings, Mitchell Zoelzer

Iowa Journal of Communication

Hollywood movies often struggle to present depressing ideas realistically. This rhetorical analysis, using narrative criticism, analyzes the presentation of suicide in five Hollywood films: Thelma and Louise, Seven Pounds, Milk, What Dreams May Come, and Dead Poet's Society. This analysis suggests a test to tell how Hollywood will present the suicide by simply knowing when the suicide is committed or by whom. If the suicide is presented at the end of the film or committed by the protagonist, Hollywood will be forced to portray it as positive and unrealistic. The only exception to this rule …

The Impact Of Oral Communication Style Of Patients From Generational-Poverty On Health Care, Peggy Lyon

Graduate Research Papers

Limited health literacy is a significant problem in the United States. It carries with it a high price tag of unnecessary medical expenditures, decreased quantity and quality of life for affected individuals, and frustration for both medical personnel and patients. Although most research has focused on print related health literacy, a significant part of the information exchanged in a medical encounter is verbal. It is well documented that persons in lower socioeconomic groups have poorer health. As some studies have found a link between socioeconomic status (SES), oral communication styles, and health care, the verbal exchange between health provider and …

A Mixed-Methods Research Study Comparing Observations During Integrated Curriculum Lessons With Traditional Single-Subject Lessons For Primary-Age Students, Ksenia Sergeevna Zhbanova

Graduate Research Papers

This study examined teacher talk and actions under two conditions: ( 1) subject-integrated lessons of an integrated curriculum unit on African culture ( experimental condition); and (2) single subject-focused lessons of a traditional separate subject curriculum on mathematics time and money measurement (control condition). The study sought to define and compare characteristics of both curriculum approaches. Although the study was primarily qualitative with observations being recorded by the researcher that were subsequently sorted into categories through a constant comparison method, counts of frequency of observations in categories were recorded, resulting in a mixed-methods design.

The observations were collected in two …

Improving The Instruction And Learning Of Topographic Maps Through The Use Of Geospatial Technologies, Troy Dean Schwemm

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Geographic information technologies (GIT) are spatially based technologies that include geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning systems (GPS). Though GIT has been used in society for decades, and has grown tremendously in the last 10 years as advancements in technology have become available, its inclusion into the K-12 curriculum has not kept pace. As the educational reform movement places an ever increasing amount of pressure on schools to produce technologically literate, workforce ready graduates, school districts are scrambling to find creative, innovative ways to accomplish this task. Rather than learning passively, GIT allows students to construct their …

A Late-Quaternary Record Of Environmental Variability From Lake Sediment Cores, Wind River Range, Wyoming, Tyler Johnson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sediment cores from two alpine lakes in Wyoming's Wind River Range were collected and analyzed to establish a record of depositional and mineralogical variability. Due to the hydrologic setting and isolation of Fiddlers and Louis lakes, these cores yielded the longest continuous limnological record in the region that extends back nearly 20,000 years to full-glacial conditions, a rarity for alpine lakes in the western United States.

To develop a paleolimnological record for Fiddlers and Louis lakes, the sediment cores were analyzed using four laboratory techniques. These techniques included particle size analysis, x-ray diffraction, heavy mineral analysis, and loss-on-ignition. Radiocarbon ages …

Temperature Rising: Investigating Rates Of Temperature Change, Jacob Norlin, Daryl Miller

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This exploratory activity, designed for secondary physical science or earth science students, investigates rates of temperature change over bodies of water and land. Students discuss temperature trends of several cities across the United States, which creates an opportunity to conduct classroom experiments to explain these trends. Students write procedures and generate data of temperature changes between areas of water and land. Students gain a valuable, concrete experience of temperature changes which in turn enables them to better understand and explain why similar cities experience vastly different temperature patterns. This activity can then serve as a basis to address the abstract …

New Media Globalization In Asia: The Online Game Industries Of South Korea, Singapore, And China, Peichi Chung

Iowa Journal of Communication

This paper examines the emerging media flow in the new media economy of Asia by focusing on the networking of media exchange among three growing production centers. It argues that the nation-state has come to play an increasingly important role in the development of a pan-Asian cultural economy in the online gaming industries of Asia. New cultural production centers have created a rising regional growth corridor between South Korea, Singapore and China. This paper concludes that this emerging growth corridor in Asia redefines the power relationship between core and periphery in the global media industry in ways that affect the …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 42, Number 1, Fall 2010 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Average Budgeted Salaries Of Faculty Staff 2010-2011, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Gives the average salaries of faculty broken down by rank and college and the distribution of salaries of the professional and scientific category.

Service-Learning In Iowa: A Study In Training And Support For Teachers, Jessica Staudt

Honors Program Theses

Service-learning is a term that is still being defined in the world of education. For some, service-learning is defined as "a method of teaching and learning which engages students in solving problems and addressing issues in their school and greater community as part of the academic curriculum" (Iowa Department of Education, 2007, p.1 ). Others define it as "the integration of community or school-based service activities with academic skills and content" that involves reflecting and learning from experiences while making contributions to the community (Kemis, 2000, p.8). Although these two definitions are very similar and could be interpreted as nearly …

Iowa Academy Of Science 122nd Annual Meeting [2010]: Advance Program, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contains information about the schedule and presentations for the 2010 annual meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science.

Csbs Statements, V12, Winter 2010, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Statements

Contents:

-- From the desk of the Dean...
-- Building the Future: Sabin Hall renovation update
-- Being Green
-- Latin America Curricular Development
-- College and Department Briefs
-- Faculty Briefs
-- Student News
-- CSBS Loyalty Roster
-- The Northern Iowa Family Services Organization has formed a new campus group
-- UNI's chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron recently placed second
-- Greetings from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences!
-- Donor Spotlight: Sue Caley
-- Dean's Fund for Excellence
-- CSBS Alumni Updates
-- Alumni Spotlight: Ellen Habel
-- The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences hosted …

Proceedings Of The 122nd Annual Meeting Of The Iowa Academy Of Science [Program, 2010], Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

Contents:

Program Summary --- 2-3
Acknowledgements --- 4
Welcome from our Campus Host --- 5
IAS 2009-2010 Volunteers --- 6
Iowa Junior Academy of Science --- 7
General Session I --- 8
IJAS Award Luncheon --- 9
IAS Annual Business Meeting --- 9
Symposia Presentations --- 10-12
Great Moments in Iowa Science --- 13
Senior Poster Program --- 14-15
President's Banquet --- 16
General Session 11 --- 17
General Session III --- 18
ESTA Award Luncheon --- 19
Saturday Field Trips --- 20
Section Meeting Programs and Oral Presentations (Alphabetical by Section) --- 21-29
Abstracts (by Section) --- 30-59
Author …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 19, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Commencement Programs

The program of the commencement ceremonies, including a list of institutional leadership, a list of the departments by college, awards given at the ceremonies, and a list of undergraduate and graduate degree candidates.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda, December 14, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting agenda from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda, December 7, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting agenda from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Csbs Kudos, December 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

-- Kudos to:
-- Kudos to CSBS faculty awarded Professional Development Assignments for 2010-2011!

Making Cereal Box Dioramas Of Native American Historic Homes And Culture, Audrey C. Rule, Lois A. Lindell

Open Educational Resources

Hands-on projects such as creating a three-dimensional diorama are among the most memorable of positive elementary school experiences, yet they are generally uncommon because these complex projects are daunting to undertake. Therefore, it is important to prepare preservice teachers with the skills to lead children in creating these types of projects. This document is a compilation of preservice teacher work completed during a social studies methods class that assists instructors in teaching students to create unique dioramas. After the preservice teachers had constructed dioramas and assisted elementary students in making their own, they reflected on previous social studies projects from …

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Agenda, November 9, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting agenda from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, November 9, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting minutes from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, November 9, 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

Meeting minutes from the Faculty Senate of the University of Northern Iowa.

Uni Schedule Of Classes, Fall 2009, University Of Northern Iowa

UNI Schedule of Classes

A listing and schedule of the courses being taught as well as policies and procedures concerning attending classes at the University of Northern Iowa.

Instruction Size Report, Fall 2009, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Gives breakdowns of student credit hours offered by status of instructor, average class size overall, and average class size by status of instructor.

Csbs Kudos, October 2009, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Social And Behavioral Sciences.

CSBS Kudos

Contents:

-- Kudos to:
-- Kudos to the CSBS Faculty who earned tenure and promotion for this year
-- Kudos to CSBS Award Winners. Recipients were honored at the State of the College address on October 5

Student Profile, Fall Semester 2009, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Preface
--- Profile Summary
--- Section I: Total Student Enrollment for Fall Semester 2008
--- Section II: New Students Entering UNI Fall Semester 2008
--- Section III: Student Enrollment by College
--- Section IV: Miscellaneous