Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Emphasizing Project Based Curriculum In Principles Of Engineering - A Project Lead The Way Course, Pamela Rae Baier Hartman

Graduate Research Papers

The current trend in education is for more Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM based curriculum. STEM occupations are critical to Iowa's economic competitiveness because of the direct ties to innovation, productivity and economic growth. On September 6, 2011 Iowa's Governor, Terry Branstad, announced the members who will serve on the Governor's STEM Advisory Council. This group was created to advise the Governor's office on ways to improve STEM education, STEM innovation and economic development. The new council, along with the 6 regional STEM hubs, will work to grow Iowa's commitment to bolstering STEM education, STEM innovation and to …

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.

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 …

Parental Perspective On Technology Integration In Pk-2 In A Rural Community School, Stephanie L. Callan

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated parental perspectives of PK-2 classroom technology integration and parental familiarity with 21st Century Skills and their importance in their children's education and future success in a global economy. Through this descriptive study the researcher used mixed-methods of a survey and semi-structured interview to gather information from parents in a small, rural school in southeastern Iowa. The research found that parents of this age group do place value on technology integration as it relates to both their children's academic and future success. Most parents of this age group working outside of an educational setting were unaware of what …

School Libraries: Developing A Valuable Resource For Gifted Learners, Corinn K. Matheson

Graduate Research Papers

This study surveys the teacher librarians, Extended Learning Program teachers, and instructional coaches in a Midwest suburban school district's elementary and middle schools. The purpose is to determine what, if any, changes are needed to better meet the needs of the district's gifted population. Seventeen (77%) of the twenty-two anonymous surveys were completed. Six ELP instructors responded (100%), five teacher librarians responded (63%), and six instruction coaches responded (75%). A qualitative analysis of six open-ended survey questions was used to evaluate respondents' answers. The questions referred both to current practices as well as suggested strategies. The results showed that while …

Lecture Capture Technology : Does It Make A Difference On College Student Achievement?, Debra S. Bruxvoort

Graduate Research Papers

Lecture capture technology allows professors to record live lectures for students to view after class. That same technology can be used to pre-record lectures for student viewing before class so that the class session can be used for other learning activities. This is referred to as the flipped classroom model. Most previous studies on the effect of lecture capture technology have focused on student perceptions and self-reported data and took place at large universities. This quantitative study collected multiple measures in an experimental design to compare the academic performance of 54 undergraduate students in three sections of the same course …

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 …

Comparing Fossil Instruction With And Without Analogy Use For Gifted Middle-School Students, Tabatha J. Klopp

Graduate Research Papers

Twenty-eight identified gifted elementary to middle school students (n=28) (16 female, 12 male; 26 Caucasian, 1 Hispanic, and 1 Native American), participated in the study of Iowa fossils through form and function analogy compared to self-research of information on the Internet, and practiced new concepts through technology-rich or hands-on craft projects. This study compared using analogical thinking skills along with technology skills to determine the effects on science learning in the elementary gifted classroom. Analogical thinking or teaching is a method recognized as a valuable source of new ideas, a way to transfer previous knowledge to solve new problems. Content …

Observation As A Formal Assessment Tool In Early Childhood Classrooms: A Professional Development Module, Kathleen M. Thornton-Lang

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this professional development module to is to explore various purposes and methods of implementing observational techniques in assessment tools in early childhood classrooms. The research reviewed focused on early childhood assessment types, including a brief review of six specific instruments, and implementation methods available to infant and toddler through preschool-aged teachers. This professional development module's base is a resource support system to help advance the observational skills of current and future teachers in the early childhood field.

The Impact Of Pretend Play On Cognitive And Academic Development Of Kindergarten Students, April Marie Thelen

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to identify the cognitive and academic benefits of pretend play for kindergarten-aged children. The review will also identify ways that kindergarten teachers can integrate pretend play within their curriculum. The research reviewed enabled mathematics and literacy to be identified as related outcomes associated with pretend play. It also identified several teacher roles necessary for productive pretend play within kindergarten curriculum. The conclusion of this literature review includes recommendations for future action and education policies based on the research reviewed.

Understanding And Meeting The Needs Of The Millennials In The Classroom: A Literature Review, Amanda Alexander

Graduate Research Papers

Due to unique pressure to improve student engagement and academic achievement, integrating technology has become the focus of much analysis. This paper reviews thirty peer-reviewed journal articles, which discuss the effects of integrating technology into K- 12 classrooms. This review examines the traits of Millennial students, which social media technology have an impact on student achievement and engagement, and what problems might occur with this integration of the technologies. Final discussions indicate that various technology initiatives have great potential to engage students. However, further research is needed to determine if using certain social media technology will improve student academic achievement.

Mining Functional Subgraphs From Cancer Protein-Protein Interaction Networks, Ru Shen, Nalin Goonesekere, Chittibabu Guda

Faculty Work

Background: Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks carry vital information about proteins’ functions. Analysis of PPI networks associated with specific disease systems including cancer helps us in the understanding of the complex biology of diseases. Specifically, identification of similar and frequently occurring patterns (network motifs) across PPI networks will provide useful clues to better understand the biology of the diseases.

Results: In this study, we developed a novel pattern-mining algorithm that detects cancer associated functional subgraphs occurring in multiple cancer PPI networks. We constructed nine cancer PPI networks using differentially expressed genes from the Oncomine dataset. From these networks we …

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

Communiqué: College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences Alumni Magazine

Contents:

-- Dean's Message
-- Solar Splash: UNI Hosts Solar Boat Competition
-- Classroom Italaino: Southern Italy Becomes UNI Classroom
-- CHAS Applause
-- Transitions
-- Elevate & Inspire: The Youds Challenge
-- A Special Budget Message From the Dean
-- News in Short
-- Students in the News
-- To Turn Around Now or Later?
-- Getting to the Root of the Matter
-- Faculty Research
-- Conversation with a UNI Grad
-- UNI Reaccredited by Higher Learning Commission
-- State Farm Foundation Grant keeps Computer Science Students in the Know
-- Alumni News
-- Commitment Comes in All …

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 …

The Update, January/February 2012, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

Inside this issue:

-- CHAS to Send Three Students to the NCUR
-- Department News
-- Student Teaching Overseas: Science Education Students Complete Student Teaching in Brazil and China
-- Culture and History in Berlin
-- Student Spotlight: Department of Philosophy and World Religions: John Anderson
-- Mathematics Alum Receives Achievement Award
-- School of Music Events
-- Alumni Spotlight: Earth Science: Brian Hynek
-- National Communication Association (NCA) Meeting
-- Student Spotlight: Department of Theatre:Jenna Graupmann
-- Bridging the Humanities and Sciences
-- UNI Forensics
-- Dean's Triangle Gallery

The Wright Message, 2012-2013, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside this issue:

-- Dear Department Alumni and Friends
-- Department Head
-- Around Wright Hall
-- 2012 - 2013 Tenure-Stream Faculty
-- New Faculty
-- Retiring Faculty: Larry Leutzinger
-- In Memory of Bonnie Litwiller
-- John & Marla Peterson: Making an Impact
-- The 2012 Hari Shankar Lecture
-- Internal UNI Awards
-- Projects and Grants
-- Student Spotlight: Melinda McDowell & Duncan Wright
-- Recent winners of the Purple and Old Gold Award
-- Alumni Spotlight: Karla Digmann, Kamilla Svajgl, & Suzanne Shontz
-- Math Day 2012
-- Squigonometry
-- Student Organizations
-- News from KME
-- …

Unibusiness: The Alumni Magazine Of The College Of Business Administration University Of Northern Iowa, 2011-2012, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Business Administration.

UNIBiz

Inside This Issue:
-- Message from the Dean ••• 2
-- Five Stars from the Ground Up ••• 4
-- MBA: It Makes a Difference in Hong Kong ••• 6
-- Faculty Perspectives in Hong Kong ••• 8
-- The Youth Vote ••• 10
-- UNIBusiness in Action ••• 12
-- UNIBusiness International ••• 14
-- UNIBusiness Faculty ••• 16
-- Annual Report on Giving ••• 18
-- Donor Spotlight ••• 22
-- Focus on Alumni ••• 23
-- Named Professorships & Fellowships ••• 24
-- Business Partner Spotlight ••• 25
-- Professional Readiness Program ••• 26
-- Class Notes …

Assistive Technology For Students With Disabilities: Resources And Challenges Encountered By Teachers, Dawn Larae Jacobsen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Assistive technology may be a solution for students with disabilities who are struggling to achieve academic growth; however, the consideration for assistive technology process is not prevalent in schools.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to take an in-depth look at the processes and factors that teachers of students with disabilities used in considering, adopting, and utilizing assistive technology to meet the needs of their students. Three teachers in one rural school shared the resources and challenges they encountered in the assistive technology process. Furthermore, using Rogers's Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Davis's Technology Acceptance Model as theoretical frameworks, …

Case Study On The Journey Of An Elementary School Labeled As A Persistently Low-Achieving School, Annette Duncan

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examined an elementary school, located in an urban school district, which was labeled as a Persistently Low-Achieving School (PLAS) by the federal government in 2009 in order to determine how the school planned to change leadership and staff; increase student achievement; and implement new approaches for changes in school climate.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of this school in the following areas:

1. Professional Practices of Teachers and Administrators: What impact did the PLAS label have on the professional practices of teachers and administrators in this building?

2. Curriculum and Academic Achievement: What …

Destination Attractiveness Of The Silos And Smokestacks National Heritage Area, Puyong Choi

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of destination attractiveness of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) in Iowa using the relative attractiveness and importance of the 15 attributes identified by Gearing, Swart, and Var's (1974) scale and 3 attributes identified by Hu and Ritchie (1993). These attributes represent the overall destination attractiveness of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) in Iowa. This study focused on the perspective of visitors and tourism experts.

Fishbein's (1967) multi-attribute model was used to determine the attitudes and preferences of the participants. The model is used to …

The Design And Evaluation Of Wireless Sensor Networks For Applications In Industrial Locations, Hameed Madwar

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In manufacturing industries, there exist many applications where Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN's) are integrated to provide wireless solution for the automated manufacturing processes. It is well known that industrial environments characterized by extreme conditions such as high temperature, pressure, and electromagnetic (EM) interference that can affect the performance of the WSN's. The key solution to overcome this performance issue is by monitoring the received Signal Strength Index (RSSI) at the received sensor of the WSN device and track frame error rate of wireless packets.

ZigBee is a wireless sensor network (WSN) standard designed for specific needs of the remote monitoring …

Using Metarules To Integrate Knowledge In Knowledge Based Systems. An Application In The Woodworking Industry, Alvaro Villavicencio

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The current study addresses the integration of knowledge obtained from Data Mining structures and models into existing Knowledge Based solutions. It presents a technique adapted from common KADS and spiral methodology to develop an initial knowledge solution using a traditional approach for requirement analysis, knowledge acquisition, and implementation. After an initial prototype is created and verified, the solution is enhanced incorporating new knowledge obtained from Online Analytical Processing, specifically from Data Mining models and structures using meta rules. Every meta rule is also verified prior to being included in the selection and translation of rules into the Expert System notation. …

Learning Transfer Of Geospatial Technologies In Secondary Science And Mathematics Core Areas, Curtis P. Nielsen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the transfer of geospatial technology knowledge and skill presented in a social sciences course context to other core areas of the curriculum. Specifically, this study explored the transfer of geospatial technology knowledge and skill to the STEM-related core areas of science and mathematics among ninth-grade students. Haskell's (2001) research on "levels of transfer" provided the theoretical framework for this study, which sought to demonstrate the experimental group's higher ability to transfer geospatial skills, higher mean assignment scores, higher post-test scores, higher geospatial skill application and deeper levels of transfer application than the …

Instructional Coaching : A Look At Teaching Practices And Impact On Student Achievement, Sharon Sue Ingebrand

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The traditional one-shot teacher trainings aimed at telling teachers what they need to do to get better are not only frustrating to teachers, but are ineffective for improving classroom practices or student learning. Experts have advocated for effective professional learning to be job-embedded and intensively focused on the goal of meeting the learning needs of teachers and students. As the body of evidence around intense, ongoing, job-embedded professional learning grows, more school districts are placing instructional coaches in schools in hope of improving teachers' practices and student learning.

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to: ( 1) determine …

An Environmental Systems Analysis Of Hydropower And Its Effects Upon Indigenous Settlements In Karnataka, India, Amy Joens

Honors Program Theses

Hydroelectricity is a very common method of energy production. Large dams are constantly being introduced to the river landscape in areas all over the world. There are definite benefits to hydropower, but the drawbacks may be even more evident. As modernization and development expand across developing nations like India, indigenous populations are often subject to the highest ration of negative impacts and consequences. This research explores both the costs and benefits of hydroelectricity, while using specific examples of dam construction projects to analyze aspects of the cumulative effects of a hydropower project. The Kabini Dam in southern Karnataka, India is …

Implementing A Family Involvement Project In Early Childhood Classrooms, Elizabeth Barrett

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this family involvement project is to provide professional development to preschool teachers in the Sioux City Community School District. Through professional development, the teachers will design and implement family involvement activities in their classrooms to achieve the three goals of this project. The research reviewed focused on the benefits of family involvement and why it is important in preschool. Research studies indicated that preschool aged children do benefit from having their families involved in their education.

Concept-Based Picture Books For Mathematics, Miranda E. Kral

Graduate Research Papers

New picture books are published every year. Teacher librarians continuously search for new titles to add to their collections through collection development. A resource was not available that provided a list of children's picture books that include a conceptual approach to mathematics. The purpose of this project was to develop an annotated bibliography of children's picture books which, after analysis by the researcher, included materials that take a conceptual approach to mathematics learning for upper elementary students.

The project was completed by selecting children's picture books, meeting selection 13 criteria, found in WorldCat that included multiplication or division concepts. The …

The New Literacies: Transitioning The Secondary Writing Workshop Classroom, Laura Schafer

Graduate Research Papers

The New Literacies are an important aspect of education in the 21 st Century. As with any educational reform, there is some confusion surrounding the terminology of this movement. This paper will review the major components of the new literacies as well as examining the increased use of technology within the secondary writing workshop classroom. With the advancement of technology, students are incorporating more computer use both in and out of the classroom. ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) literacy skills must begin to transition into all classrooms; teaching includes the use of technology as part of instruction rather than a …