Digital Commons Network^™

Increasing Vocabulary And Oral Language Skills Of Pre-K English Language Learners Through Shared Storybook Reading And Take-Home Literacy Bags, Angela Butler

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Shared Storybook Readings and Take Home Literacy Bags utilizing Dialogic Questioning Techniques on the oral language skills and vocabulary knowledge of preschool-aged English Language Learners.

Eleven preschool students identified as English Language Learners in a suburban school district took part in the six-week intervention. Each week students were exposed to three read-aloud experiences utilizing Dialogic Reading Techniques and Questioning and a Take Home Literacy Bag for further reading experiences with their families. Student growth was assessed weekly using three tools: Teaching Strategies GOLD observations, a Teacher-Created Vocabulary Assessment, and …

The Effects Of Blended Learning On Critical Thinking In A High School Earth Science Class, Renee Nicole Borglum

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study analyzed the effects of differing levels of technology use in a high school Earth Science class on student performance on the Classroom Test of Scientific Reasoning (CTSR). Blended learning manipulates the combination of hands-on activities, classroom discussions, online discussions, interactive simulations and a variety of assessments that engage, instruct and assess student learning. Critical thinking is the set of skills and dispositions that foster problem solving, reasoning ability and selfregulation. The increasing use of technology in the classroom and fluctuation of content standards prompted this research. The results have implications for the classroom teacher of a wide range …

Lingual Pressure Generation In Relation To Saliva And Water Swallowing In Healthy Young Adults, Anna Joerger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Lingual strength and swallowing pressures have been studied extensively in dysphagia rehabilitation literature; however, little research has considered how lingual pressure generation may relate to parameters of swallowing speed and endurance. Additionally, little is known about the ability of the tongue to generate pressure to a given target, known as lingual control. This project collected measures of lingual pressure and measures of swallowing speed and endurance in 10 healthy, young adults. Specifically it explored if lingual strength or control of the anterior and posterior tongue correlate with endurance or speed during saliva and water swallowing tasks. Significant relations among lingual …

Using One-To-One Computing For Differentiated Instruction In Iowa: An Investigation Of The Impact Of Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching And Learning, Jodi A. Bermel

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The 1983 seminal work entitled A Nation at Risk recommended that all high school graduates be proficient in the Five New Basics: English, mathematics, science, social studies, and computer science. To address the No Child Left Behind mandates, educators and administrators are evaluating the theory and practice of Differentiated Instruction (DI). One-to-one computer initiatives became an element of DI strategy due to the well-documented advantages in the use of technology to address individual learning needs. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine administrators’ and teachers’ perceptions of using one-to-one computing to differentiate instruction and to identify potential …

Premier, Fall 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Education.

Premier

Contents:

--Letter from the Dean

--MES Program Becoming Popular Route to Physical Therapy Careers

--Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Wraps Up Work

--Schindler Education Center Undergoes Renovation

--Teacher Leadership for International Educators: Impacting Far and Near

--Education Major Appointed to BOR

--Faculty Member and Student Pair to Teach Forgiveness

--Alumni Return to Share Wisdom

--HPELS Program Helps Prepare Tuttle for Future

--Student Teachers Learn About Poverty, & Challenges Facing Area Families

--The Story Writers

--Invest in a Better Future

--Class Notes

--Educate Serve Lead Annual Report

Uni Grad Student News, V13n1, August 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

UNI Grad Student News

Inside this issue:

-- Message from the Dean
-- Current Faculty Profile: Gabriela Olivares
-- Alumni Profile: Cassie Reilly-Boccia
-- Current Student Profile: Mike Nguyen
-- MBA Capstone Conference
-- Graduate Commencement Speakers
-- UNI Grad Student News
-- Graduate Assistants
-- 2015 Recipient of Outstanding Research Paper on Gender Award
-- Social Work Awards Event
--Graduate College Staff and Contact Information

International Panther, Summer 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Culture And Intensive English Program.

International Panther

Inside this issue:

-- UNI Connections: International Students & Scholars Office
--CIEP Current Student: Firuza Nabievna from Tajikistan
--CIEP Culture & Social Activities
--CIEP Staff Spotlight: Student Employees
--CIEP Special Program: Proyecta 100,000 Strong
--Brazil Scientific Mobility Program Special Program
--CIEP Intercultural Workshop
--CIEP Staff Initiatives
--CIEP World’s Window Staff Overseas

Honors Research Conference [Program] April 11, 2015, University Of Northern Iowa

Honors Research Day Programs

No abstract provided.

International Panther, Spring 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Culture And Intensive English Program.

International Panther

Inside this issue:

-- From the CIEP Director
-- UNI Connections: UNI Office of Business Operations dedicated to supporting UNI & CIEP students
-- Class Exchanges with Kathy Oakland
-- CIEP Alumni: Masahiro Takhashi, Japan
-- CIEP Current Student: Nouran Othman, Syria
-- Exploring STEM Education across cultures
-- CIEP Activities
-- CIEP Staff Spotlight: Meet Patricia Ferguson, Academic Support Specialist
-- CIEP Staff Projects
-- CIEP World’s Window Afghanistan: The celebration of Nowroz

Earth News, V38, Spring 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Earth Science.

Earth News

Inside this issue:

-- From the Department Head
-- News from the faculty and staff
-- News from emeritus
-- Summer Undergraduate Research Opens Doors
-- Hydrology News
-- Alumni in Residence
-- IMPACT
-- Sunday at the Quarry
-- Student Spotlight: Roxi Woodside
-- Iowa Geological Summer Workshop
-- Alumni Spotlight: Cara Wright
-- SGE
-- In Memoriam: Jared D. Trimble
-- Seminars
-- Student Research
-- Internships
-- Scholarships
-- Graduates
-- News from alumni
-- What have You been Up to? Update Us
-- Gifts from alumni & friends
-- Your Contributions Make a Difference
-- Contribution …

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, March 23, 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

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

Uni Grad Student News, V12n3, March 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. Graduate College.

UNI Grad Student News

Inside this issue:

-- Message from the Dean
-- You Are Formally Invited to Attend 8th Annual Graduate Student Symposium
-- Graduate Faculty Profile: Leila Rod-Welch
-- Current Student Profile: Katherin Kneisley
-- Current Student Profile: Agung Kristianto
-- Alumni Profile: Dee Vandeventer
-- Out of the Darkness 2015 Campus Walk
-- Networking 101
-- Attending a Professional Conference Panel
-- Job Search Strategies Workshop Recap
-- Public Policy Graduate Students Bring Elect Her to UNI
-- GSAB Update
-- Curriculum & Instruction Student Presents Thesis at Conference
-- Public History Student Presents at Conference
-- Spring 2015 Graduate and …

Hands-On Russian Culture Lessons, Ksenia S. Zhbanova, Audrey C. Rule, Michelle L. Tichy

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

The global diverse society necessitates that teachers develop cultural competency and use authentic resources for teaching. This article presents classroom-tested materials for teaching elementary students about aspects of Russian culture, developed by a native Russian and two education professors. Multiage, multi-racial American Midwestern students from a homeschooling cooperative learned vocabulary and concepts with statistically significant increases from pretest to posttest and a large effect size. The lessons began with recognition of human commonalities between Russian people and Americans, in accordance with omniculturalism theory. Lessons then highlighted and celebrated cultural differences through an exploration of Russian literature and culture. Culminating creative …

The Update, March 2015, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

Inside this issue:

-- UNI & the Arts: Department of Art Faculty Engage Students at Waterloo East High School
-- Department News
-- School of Music Events
-- UNI Wins Big at AAF: UNI Department of Art Students Bring Home the Gold
-- Alumni Spotlight: Department of Philosophy and World Religions: Rick Grisel
-- Alumni Spotlight: Department of Theatre: Michaela Nelson
-- Student Spotlight: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: Angela Weepie
-- Mesa Española, Department of Languages and Literatures
-- Student Spotlight: Department of Theatre: Cory Skold
-- Student Spotlight: Department of Computer Science: Mojtaba Alfardan
-- Physics Club, Department …

The Spectacle Of Rock And Roll Hybridity In Chiang Mai: An Ethnographic Study Of Rock And Roll-Ness In Thailand, Scott M. Walus, Nathan E. Furstenau

Iowa Journal of Communication

Rock and roll has attained canonical status in America by providing a soundtrack for the expression of individualism for the past 60 years. Its current state of stability differs from its first two decades, where novelty and possibility fueled its popularity (Cooper, 2013). In Chiang Mai, Thailand, an influx of American rock and roll has combined with local Thai culture to yield a hybrid music culture. This hybrid rock and roll culture provides the space for the possibilities of collective rebellion through a community that is uniquely Chiang Mai. This study deploys the lens of hybridity to the participant data …

A Future For The Discipline Of Communication: Higher Education And Its Generational Transformations, James W. Chesebro, Christopher A. Flook

Iowa Journal of Communication

This critical essay traces the evolutions of and changes in higher education as a context for discussing the future of the discipline of communication. Some of the strengths and limitations of the 1975-2010 era, identified by Geiger (1995/2011) as the "Privatization and Current Era" in higher education, are detailed with special attention given to the increasing, if not unique, support of corporate organizations in funding and defining the agenda of higher education research during this era. This analysis functions as context for isolating teaching as a key component of the future of undergraduate communication higher education in the 2011-2036 era.

Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity In The Age Of Genomic Research: Its Potential Impact On Understanding Health Disparities, Tesfaye B. Mersha, Tilahun Abebe

Faculty Work

This review explores the limitations of self-reported race, ethnicity, and genetic ancestry in biomedical research. Various terminologies are used to classify human differences in genomic research including race, ethnicity, and ancestry. Although race and ethnicity are related, race refers to a person’s physical appearance, such as skin color and eye color. Ethnicity, on the other hand, refers to communality in cultural heritage, language, social practice, traditions, and geopolitical factors. Genetic ancestry inferred using ancestry informative markers (AIMs) is based on genetic/genomic data. Phenotype-based race/ethnicity information and data computed using AIMs often disagree. For example, self-reporting African Americans can have drastically …

Annotated Bibliography Of Thematically Related Historical Fiction Picture Books And Nonfiction Pairs, Katherine Seibel

Graduate Research Papers

The Iowa Common Core requires students to read both fiction and nonfiction texts. Iowa teachers would benefit from a list of books that will allow them to meet school curricular requirements as well as the Iowa Core requirement. The purpose of this project was to create an annotated bibliography of paired sets of picture books and nonfiction books that correspond to one mid-sized Iowa elementary school's literacy curriculum. The researcher selected units from the school's literacy program that could be taught in a historical context, and then prepared an annotated bibliography consisting of pairs of a historical fiction picture book …

Age Variation In Nonverbal Cue Recognition In Computer-Mediated Communication, Nathaniel Beyerink

Honors Program Theses

When interacting with someone in a face-to-face setting you not only communicate with spoken words, but with other sorts of communicative tools, such as tone of voice or facial expressions. However, now interlocutors are frequently communicating through channels, such as email, that restrict their ability to use such tools. Therefore, one may wonder how one retains the same level of communication. The purpose of the research reported in this paper was to attempt to attain a better understanding of the ways in which people interpret text-based computer-mediated communication (e.g. texting, instant messaging, and email). More specifically, this study looks at …

Iowa Conference On Communicative Disorders [Program, 2015], Iowa Conference On Communicative Disorders

Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders Programs

The Iowa Conference on Communicative Disorders provides continuing education activities in speech- language pathology that are acceptable to the State of Iowa and the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association. Areas of emphasis include adults and pediatrics.

Middle School Leisure Reading Selection: Influences During Selection And Implications For School Library Programs, Jessica A. Elliot

Graduate Research Papers

Numerous studies have been conducted in the past on the decline in amount of time students spend reading for leisure as they age. However, few studies have explored the specific factors that influence how middle school students select leisure reading materials. The purpose of this combined, qualitative and quantitative study is to explore the leisure reading habits of grade 8 students in order to explore the specific factors that influence middle schools students when they select leisure reading materials. Additionally, the study aims to determine if there are significant differences in how male and female students select their reading materials. …

The Pura Belpré Award And The Portrayal Of Disability, Zoe Houser

Honors Program Theses

The Pura Belpré Award is one of the lesser known literary awards. Because other literary awards have been around longer and received a large amount of attention, there has been much research done over the other literary awards, including how the award books portray disabled characters within their pages. However, there is a lack of research about the portrayal of disability in books that have been awarded or honored by the Pura Belpré Award.

This paper will address the question of how many Pura Belpré Award winning books include prominent characters with disabilities and if they are portrayed positively or …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 47, Number 2, Spring 2015 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Linguistic Identity Development Of Dual Language Learners, Elizabeth Silbernagel

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this research study was to analyze ways in which dual language learners were impacted by their environment (school, home, and community) and explore how these environments impacted their cultural and linguistic identity. Specifically, the goal was to find ways in which educators could better support these students in the classroom to help them achieve academic success, as well as make students feel that their culture is acknowledged and appreciated in the classroom environment. Both of these goals point toward the need to consider the “role identity plays in children’s demonstration and construction of knowledge” (Owocki & Goodman, …

Turkish Identity In Poetry Before And After The 1928 Language Revolution, Angela Marie Wrage

Honors Program Theses

The 1928 language revolution in Turkey involved the change of the Turkish writing script from the Arabic to the Latin alphabet, as well as the elimination of Arabic and Persian loan words and associated imported grammar. In this study, we assessed the impact this language revolution had on Turkish identity by examining it through the lens of Ottoman and Turkish literature and poetry. To achieve this, we compared literary and poetic themes from before and after the language revolution; we also studied the activity of prolific writers from before and after the transition to determine what effect, if any, the …

Danish Cedar Falls : The Immigrant Experience, Carrie L. Eilderts

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Danish were the largest immigrant group in Cedar Falls. They immigrated to Cedar Falls and the nearby rural village of Fredsville in large numbers between 1870 and 1900. There they formed an immigrant community. The lived near each other, worshipped together, spoke the same language, and carried on Danish traditions. They farmed, found jobs in Cedar Falls businesses, and opened businesses of their own. By the 1930s, as the first generation of Danish immigrants grew old, the younger generations began to identify more as Americans than as Danes. The elements that characterized the Danish immigrant community began to disappear. …

The Disintegration Of Yugoslavia And Football, Adnan Kajtezović

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a multi-national state, consisting of six republics and two autonomous regions. However in 1991, the country descended into a tragic and bloody civil war, causing over two hundred thousand deaths and the migration of thousands. The disintegration of Yugoslavia produced seven independent countries: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo.

The disintegration of Yugoslavia has been analyzed from different analytical perspectives. This project utilizes the analytical context of Yugoslavian popular culture, and focuses on the most popular sport in the country, football. Football is analyzed in two historical periods of …

On Body Dumps : The Rhetorics Of Corporeal Narcoterrorism, Evan Mitchell Schares

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Though the exact number is unknown, estimates indicate the trade and movement of narcotics have resulted in over 60,000 murders of Mexican citizens. As a result of the rising narcoviolence, Felipe Calderón, early in his presidential administration, made the “War on Drugs” a top priority. Despite this effort to curb the violence, in 2010 alone, more than 15,200 lifeless bodies have been left across Mexico, most likely by drug cartels. A nascent phrase, body dumps, has risen in journalistic reports describing this conscious relocation of the ruined corpse to highly visible traffic areas. This thesis explores the rhetorical constructions of …

In Connection With All Things : The Memory Of Alexander Humboldt And His Works In The Context Of 19th Century Thought In Europe And America, Ray Joseph Werner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This thesis explores the memory of Alexander von Humboldt, the explorer and philosopher who was known for his travels throughout Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. This paper will examine primary and secondary sources throughout the 19^th and 20^th centuries that mark a change in just how Humboldt was remembered, once as a great thinker, philosopher, and romanticist, then eventually as little more than an empirical scientist. This thesis will contribute to modern understandings of this man by looking at popular publications and writings that track this change over time. It will contribute to the modern understanding …

Resurrecting The Hip-Hop And Christian Cultures: Lecrae's Unashamed Use Of The Rap Narrative, Persona, And Language, Marci Swank

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Hip-hop and Christian cultures do not overlap too often, or do they? As a rapper, Lecrae is able to share his narrative through his lyrical content, which includes his Christian faith. This thesis examines the history of hip-hop, Lecrae’s personal influences, and the overarching movement within the two cultures. Lecrae’s persona, use of the hiphop and Christian platforms, and rhetorical decisions reveal him as an example of how the American culture both resists and embraces the less-likely artist. Some view Lecrae as the one bringing hip-hop back to its original origins, but others believe that he is tainting both cultures …