Digital Commons Network^™

Adrift In The Wake Of Modernism: Music, Mind, And Meaning In The Works Of James Joyce, April E. Cook

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Since Joyce's rise to critical prominence over the course of the twentieth century, a diverse corpus of scholarship has emerged around the Joyce canon that is nearly as vast and as multifaceted as the works themselves. While many have explored Joyce's affinity for music and his unprecedented synthesis of musical and literary modes, relatively few have examined his works' musical properties in the context of the contemporaneous musical developments of the early avant-garde and jazz movements. This study explores the trajectory of Joyce's engagement with musical forms and techniques, ranging from the primarily allusive relations of his early works to …

2009-2010 Uni Basketball (Men's), University Of Northern Iowa

Athletics Media Guides

Contents:

--This is UNI Basketball --Inside front cover-1
--Contents --2
--Outstanding Coaching --4
--Panther Success --5
--The UNI Experience --6-7
--First-Class Facilities --8-9
--Missouri Valley Conference --10-11
--The University of Northern Iowa --12-13
--Academic Support --14-15
--Traveling with the Panthers --16-17
--Media Coverage --18-19
--The Cedar Valley --20
--Community Outreach --21
--Strength and Conditioning --22
--Sports Medicine --23
--Alumni/Hall of Fame --24
--UNI Administration --25
--Director of Athletics Troy Dannen --26
--Athletic Staff --27
--Panther Head Coaches --28
--Head Coach Ben Jacobson --30-31
--Assistant Coach Kyle Green --32
--Assistant Coach P.J. Hogan --33
--Assistant Coach Ben Johnson --34
--Dir. of …

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2009/2010, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Full-time Equivalency Enrollment
--- Degrees Granted
--- Degree Summary
--- Program Certificates
--- Pupils in Price Laboratory School
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree Objective, and Racial/Ethnic Classification

Design Practices Business Organizations Employ To Deliver Virtual Classroom Training, Rebecca L. Adams

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of the literature review is to investigate what instructional design practices organizations employ to deliver virtual classroom training to their workforces. The review examines why companies are implementing virtual classrooms, positive and negative elements of implementing, instructional design strategies companies use to deliver effective virtual training and how learners perceive virtual classroom training compared to traditional face-to-face settings. Best practice with research shows that the most critical factors in successful virtual classroom training are engaging learners, using the software technology effectively, applying instruction design practices and accurately evaluating learner perception. By understanding the best practices, instructional designers can …

Welcome To The Iowa Early Learning Standards : A Professional Development Opportunity, Tammy R. Bormann

Graduate Research Papers

In 2006, early learning standards were written in Iowa for children from birth to five years of age; however, very few opportunities were designed to inform early childhood personnel of the existence of lowa's early learning standards, and how they were reflected in early childhood programming. In 2008, a grant from the Iowa Department of Management was awarded to Tammy Bormann of Early Learning and Caring Resources to write a training series for early childhood personnel based on the Iowa Early Learning Standards; Welcome to the Iowa Early Learning Standards. In 2010, Tammy worked with Child Care Resource and …

Constructivism And Distance Education : Meeting The Needs Of Adult Learners In Distance Education, Kimberly D. Nicholson

Graduate Research Papers

This review addresses literature regarding how the implementation of constructivist principles in designing online learning environments can meet adults' needs. This literature review identifies the specific characteristics and concerns associated with distance learning environments. It also explores the usefulness of using constructivism as a means to meet the unique needs of adult learners in distance learning courses. Resources consist primarily of books and articles published from 1995 to the present, dealing with issues of constructivism, andragogy, and distance education.

The topics covered include constructivism, adult learners, and constructivist-based strategies integration with particular attention being paid to the problem-based learning model, …

Using Mobile Devices In Education, Jennifer N. Nitchals

Graduate Research Papers

With the changes in technology over the last few years, it is important to consider mobile devices because they offer a variety of applications to enhance what is already being taught in the classroom. The review discusses how today's mobile devices have many capabilities that are pertinent to education and the enhancements to current curriculum. The review also covers the challenges that need to be addressed in order for the mobile devices to be an asset to the classroom. The resources used for the discussion include journal articles, books and literature reviews. The review will give an insight to how …

Project/Problem Based Learning Activities For High School Biology, Susan Considine

Graduate Research Papers

Very early on in my teaching career it became apparent to me that teaching required talent, patience, perseverance, and a wide array of tools. The past thirteen years of teaching have provided insight to the methods that work best in the classroom. Throughout my education as a part of the Masters of Science Education program at the University of Northern Iowa I have been exposed to many different models of teaching and learning. One instructional approach I think is essential to my teaching is project and problem based learning. Science is understood to be a process of finding out and …

National Board For Professional Teaching Standards, Michelle Oslin Griffen

Graduate Research Papers

As part of my masters requirements, I decided to go through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) Process. The NBPTS process requires teachers to thoroughly analyze their practices in order to improve their teaching and student learning. The three entries I chose to highlight in this paper are: Writing: Thinking through the Process, Integrating Mathematics with Science, and Documented Accomplishments: Contributions to Student Learning. Every entry required contextual information about my school and classroom.

Adventure Education: After-School Program Participation On Academic Performance, Arlene F. Prather-O'Kane

Graduate Research Papers

Adventure Education is an innovative way to build character by enhancing self- discovery, developing personal responsibility, and acquiring coping and communication skills, in a school setting. Adventure Education is established in some elementary, middle, and high school curricula, but it remains unclear of its outcomes on programmatic issues. Research literature in the Adventure Education field focusing on program components has been minimal.

This study investigated math and reading scores, and school attendance of middle after-school students, to see if an Adventure Education program called Seed Planters® influenced students' abilities to perform better in school and to increase their interest in …

Teacher-Initiated Reminders To Increase The Frequency Of Attainment Of Students’ Self-Set Aerobic Fitness Goals, Ross Chakrian

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Cardiovascular Fitness And Academic Achievement In 8th Grade Students, Lindsey Kingsbury

Graduate Research Papers

Background: Federal mandates add pressure to school administrators to improve academic performance on standardized tests. Physical education, along with other none academic subjects, are being removed to make more academic instructional time.

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to examine how middle school students' cardiovascular fitness affects academic performance standardized test. A secondary focus was to examine the relationship between a 2.5 and 5 day a week physical education regimen* cardiovascular fitness levels.

Methods: The FitnessGram PACER was used to measure the cardiovascular endurance levels and the Iowa Basic Skills Test was used to measure academic performance in …

Synthesis And Characterization Of A [Ru(Bpy)2(Ncs)2] Derivative For Use As A Dye-Sensitizer In Nanocrystalline Solar Cells, Joel Thomas Kirner

Honors Program Theses

After extensive review of the field of dye-sensitized solar cells, the molecule [Ru(4,4’- dicarboxy-2,2’-bipyridine)(4,4’-di-(2-(2-pyridyl)ethenyl)-2,2’-bipyridine)(NCS)2] has been designed as an original contribution to the field. This dye sensitizer was chosen by derivatizing upon the structure of the standard sensitizer, cis-diisothiocyanatobis(4,4’-dicarboxylic acid-2,2’- bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (N3), by extending the conjugation of one bipyridine ligand. This structural derivatization should enhance light harvesting by red-shifting the dye’s absorbance and increasing the dye’s molar absorptivity, which should result in a dye-sensitized solar cell with higher efficiency. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) molecular orbital calculations of the new dye complex indicate that the HOMO is highly localized …

Playing Like A Girl: An Analysis Of The Role Of Gender In Trumpet Performance, Leslie Ellen Aboud

Honors Program Theses

The area of classical trumpet performance has been primarily regarded as a masculine profession and many are surprised to be informed of or stumble upon some of the great female trumpeters of our time. Since the gender of trumpet players is seemingly one-sided, it is important to note to what degree, if any, gender impacts this profession. The goal of this research is to use experiences and opinions of prominent female trumpet players to identify the role of gender in classical trumpet performance from the standpoint of musical expression and approaches to performance. In order to carry out these goals, …

Impact Of Time Reduction In Physical Education Class, Ada Potratz

Graduate Research Papers

Time is a precious commodity for school personnel, especially teachers. Teachers are talking about needing more time to teach and less time to consume administering standardized tests. The No Child Left Behind legislation has put pressure on teachers, schools, and districts to perform in Math and Reading. As a result, students are tested daily, weekly and monthly so data can be collected. This data is not used to put school and/or districts on the No Child Left Behind list of making progress or in need of assistance. Instead, it is used in districts to plot progress. To comply with the …

A Need For Picture Books Showing Girls Playing Organized Team Sports, Lisa A. Heiden

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project was to create a children's picture storybook depicting female characters participating in competitive team athletics. The book shows a young girl learning about the game of basketball and sharing the experience with her older sister. The researcher has a long history of athletic participation and a deep passion for sports. These experiences allowed the researcher to capture the essence of the sport of basketball and create a picture book for children that engages the reader and possibly encourages participation in athletics for children of various ages. The book gives young, athletic girls an early experience …

Cyber-Communication : Can Virtual Server Technologies Serve As Effective Media Delivery Tools For Human Performance Enhancement?, James E. Dorris

Graduate Research Papers

This project involved exploring whether or not virtual server technologies are viable and effective tools for human performance enhancement. The goal of this project was to conduct a comparative analysis of three specific virtual servers (i.e., YouTube, TeacherTube, and iTunesU) to determine whether or not either of these would serve as effective assets for improving the media development and delivery capabilities of the staff and faculty members at Hawkeye Community College. Four collaborative multimedia development projects were produced, monitored and evaluated to determine the levels of consistency, reliability, and user-friendliness in departmental media delivery processes. The research team of Hawkeye's …

Designing Effective Multi-User Learning Environments To Enhance Game-Based Learning, Brian C. Johnson

Graduate Research Papers

This literature review examines the properties of specific video games, classified as multi-user learning environments, for commonalties and compares these pieces of software with sound learning theories to determine effective methods of using these types of software for educational applications. This category of software, though not initially developed as an educational learning environment or tool, has gained interest due to the social and entertainment value inherit with this type of game play. This paper reviews relevant published research material that examines the characteristics of both games created for entertainment value and games created for educational purposes to provide insights on …

English Language Learners And Their Relationship To The Middle School Library, Ann Van Treeck

Graduate Research Papers

English language learners significantly impact the deployment of resources in U.S. schools, and their numbers are growing. While this population is often at risk academically due to the rigorous subject material delivered in secondary schools, educators continue to struggle with effective pedagogy. Public libraries have studied the nuances of this sub-group and have been successful in serving immigrant populations through the decades. Therefore, this focused study examined the relationship of secondary students and their school library. This study found that ELL students access materials from special collections more frequently than from the general collection. Students reported no negative stigma associated …

The Wright Message, 2010, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside this issue:

-- Dear Department Alumni and Friends
-- 2010 - 2011 Tenure-Stream Faculty
-- Spotlight on Undergraduates
-- Projects and Grants
-- Secondary Mathematics Education Programs
-- UNI I-Teach
-- Crane Scholarship
-- Actuarial Science and the Actuarial Science Fund
-- Alliance Project
-- Mathematics Contribution Form
-- Additional Mathematics Funds
-- Around Wright Hall
-- In Memoriam
-- Dr. Ridenhour Retires

Cns Connections, Winter 2010-11, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Natural Sciences.

CNS Connections

Inside this issue:

-- Message from the Dean
-- Wind-solar hybrid power station in operation
-- Carver grants strengthen Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry
--Google-funded workshop for teachers held at UNI
-- Applause
-- Transitions
-- CNS News in Short
-- CNS Students in the News
-- Conversation with a UNI graduate
-- Faculty Research
-- Three CNS grads awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
-- North American Prairie Conference hosted by Tallgrass Prairie Center
-- Physics Department partners with Ankeny High School
-- From one generation to another...
-- Alumni News
-- Clifford McCollum, first CNS Dean, dies
-- CNS Advisory …

Applying Cognitively Guided Instruction Through Word Problem Probes, James Jackson Ploen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Professional development programs have the opportunity to engage educators with new knowledge and pedagogical implications. Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) is a teacher professional development program focused on elementary mathematics instruction (Carpenter, Fennema, Franke, Levi, & Empson, 1999). The program's foundation is based upon research of how students learn to solve basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division word problems. Using children's common solutions strategies, CGI leads to teaching practices that support children in generating their own meaningful problem-solving skills while naturally learning mathematics. The paper reviews the literature on CGI and examines the initial findings of interrater reliability of CG I-based …

Teachers' Perspectives On Changes In General And Special Education: Examining The Pieces Of The Puzzle, Janine Kane

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

To understand the impact of special education and educational changes that have occurred in rural schools in Iowa since 1975, this ethnographic qualitative inquiry examined the dispositions, beliefs, contexts, and recalled experiences of four teachers who began teaching around the time the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) was enacted in 1975 and continued teaching until after the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was enacted in 2002. In addition, the research project explored the teachers' views of the impact various educational changes had on them, their colleagues, and the students they taught.

The group of four participants, with …

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 …

How Does The University Of Northern Iowa's Recycling Program Compare To The Recycling Programs Of Its Peer Institutions?, Anna J. Schrad

Honors Program Theses

In recent years, the concept of sustainability has become mainstream and has begun to be incorporated into the decisions that businesses, organizations, and institutions make. With over 12,000 students, the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) has great potential to generate large quantities of recyclables (Kaplan & von Kolnitz, 2004). By expanding its recycling program, UNI can increase its appeal to prospective students while gaining economic benefits in addition to protecting the environment. Waste managers at 8 of UNI’s peer institutions (Appendix B) were interviewed to determine how UNI’s recycling and waste diversion efforts compared to similar schools for a variety …

Paternal Religiosity And Parenting Style: Influence On The Quality Of Daughter's Friendships, Abigail Anne Buenneke

Honors Program Theses

Research shows that parenting styles fall into three basic categories: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive (Baumrind, 1971). Also, a high amount of parental involvement has been found to exert a positive influence on children’s academic performance and personality development (Heaven & Ciarrochi, 2008). This study examines the hypothesis that a daughter who reports that her father figure only allows her to develop highly regulated friendships will have a more negative perception of her father figure than a girl who is given more freedom in developing friendships. Secondly, the study examines the hypothesis that a daughter who reports highly regulated friendships will …

Using Mathematics As A Gateway To Literacy For English Language Learners, Krista Hemphill

Honors Program Theses

One teaching approach that alleviates language barriers involves teachers using what students know and can do to develop students‟ understanding of and ability in another area. Thus, 2 teachers can promote ELLs‟ literacy development by integrating knowledge and skills ELLs have from another subject area into their literacy instruction. Specifically, teachers can integrate mathematics into literacy instruction because research suggests that ELLs often understand and successfully carry out mathematical tasks. For example, Gunning (2003) points out that ELLs tend to perform well on mathematical computations. The universality of mathematical symbols seems to promote ELLs‟ understanding of mathematics instruction although lessons …

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’ …

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 …

Useful Tips For The First Year Science Teacher, Kate Ellen Harken

Graduate Research Papers

First-year science teachers can face daunting challenges in and out of the classroom. Determining your personal teaching style, establishing a classroom routine and becoming accustomed to your new job and surroundings can take a toll on teachers.