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Iowa Academy Of Science 116th Annual Meeting [2004]: Advance Program, Iowa Academy Of Science

Iowa Academy of Science Documents

No abstract provided.

Cooperative Learning In The Middle School : Is It A Developmentally Appropriate Strategy?, Laura C. Guilford

Graduate Research Papers

"Cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other's learning" (Holt, 1993, p. 5). The strategy sounds simple, and it has existed throughout history in some format, but there are many aspects.that come into play when cooperative learning is used. This review of literature examines what cooperative learning is, what the benefits of using cooperative learning strategies are, what problems can occur, and whether cooperative learning is an appropriate strategy for middle level students.· The author discusses recommendations for resolving some of the problems that teachers have with …

Index For The Journal Of The Iowa Academy Of Science Volume 111

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Plant Parasitic Fungi Of Ten Tallgrass Prairies Of Iowa: Distribution And Prevalence, Lois H. Tiffany, George Knaphus

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

During the 1980s and 1990s, collections of fungal parasites on above ground parts of prairie plants in Iowa were made throughout the growing seasons. This report presents the fungi recorded from three groups of Iowa tallgrass prairies. The western group was composed of Dinesen, Steele and Stinson Prairie State Preserves, a Loess Hills group of collecting sites in Five Ridge and Runkel Prairie State Preserves and prairies at Waubonsie State Park. 180 species of fungi were collected on 116 hosts from these prairies. A central Iowa group of prairies associated with the Des Moines Lobe landform, Anderson, Doolittle, Kalsow and …

Back Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Drinking Water Contamination In Buried Slab Wells, Other Large-Diameter Wells, And Drilled Wells, Rita M. Gergely

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

This study presents the results of a statewide water well survey conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Health from 1993 to 1995 to determine whether there were statistically significant differences between well water contamination in buried slab wells, other large-diameter wells, and drilled wells. Wells were sampled for total coliform bacteria, fecal coliform bacteria, nitrate, and atrazine. Staff collected water samples and completed a site survey at each well, which included an interview with the occupant or owner and actual observations of the wellhead and surrounding area.

The study included 293 buried slab wells, 287 other large-diameter wells, and …

Biomass Yield Stability In Alfalfa, Joseph G. Robins, Heathcliffe Riday, Sara J. Helland, E. Charles Brummer

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

In addition to biomass production, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cultivars also need to express yield stability across diverse environments. The objective of this experiment was to analyze the nature of biomass yield stability in ten commercial alfalfa cultivars by evaluating performance of individual genotypes. Biomass yield was measured in each of five environments across two years, and the yield stability computed for the overall cultivar mean performance and the mean performance of each of the genotypes comprising the cultivars using the genotype x environment variance statistic of Shukla and the superiority statistic of Lin and Binns'. The GxE variance of the …

Back Cover

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

A Preferred Vision For Administering Elementary And Secondary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tim T. Moses.

Graduate Research Papers

As I think about the question of becoming an administrator, all sorts of things run through my mind. Things such as, am I really cut out to do this job ? Do I have what it takes to be an administrator? Will I fail or will I succeed? Will I have the support of my staff? Will I be able to perform the paper-pencil tasks of an administrator? Will I be able to handle the school's budget ? I mean the questions just go on and on. So, as I look at the driving forces behind my decision to become …

"It Is Just What I Do" To "It Doesn't Really Matter": Youth Voters' Considerations Of Voting As Instrument And Ritual, Catherine H. Palczewski, J. Aaron Boyd, Sarah A. Gillespie, Marie E. Hamer, Patrick G. Hanson, Michelle Kelsey, Stacey E. Lyon, Alison Reicks, Sarah Tuhy, Amber Wendt, Laura Wisgerhof, Kathryn M. Zimmerly

Iowa Journal of Communication

Written as a class-wide collective research project for a Political Communication course, this qualitative study explores young voters' perceptions of the meaning of voting. After conducting in-depth interviews with 66 eligible voters aged 18-25, the authors conducted a theme analysis. This study reveals that young people who tend to vote have a well-developed understanding of the ritual significance of voting which, in turn, contributes to their ability to recognize an instrumental effect. In contrast, those who do not vote tend to focus on the limited instrumental effect of voting, even as they argue that the effect of a wrong vote …

Cover - Table Of Contents

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

The Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionidae) Of The Boone River, North Central Iowa, Ellet Hoke

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

A survey of the freshwater mussels of the Boone River conducted in September 1982 documented a fauna consisting of seventeen then extant or relict species. Analysis of museum records yielded one additional species unrecovered since 1937. Subsequent to the 1982 study, additional surveys were conducted in the region in 1984-1985 and 1998-1999 as a part of two statewide surveys. A comparison of the results of the three studies suggests a significant decline in the unionid fauna in the Boone River since 1982. While it is almost certain that a real decline in the fauna has occurred, the extent of this …

Cover - Table Of Contents

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of White Pine (Pinus Strobus) On A Mollisol After Seven Decades Of Soil Development, Irina Kovda, Eric C. Brevik, Thomas E. Fenton, Maria Gerasimova

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Selected chemical, physical, and macro and micromorphological properties in two pedons of a Clarion soil (Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludolls) formed in till parent material, one planted to white pines (Pinus strobus) for the past 75 years and the other to grass, were compared. The most obvious difference between the two was the increased biological activity under pines; the variety and quantity of excrements suggested the activity of soil microfauna and variability of species resulted in finer and better aggregation of biological origin (crumbs and granules), numerous excrements in voids, and higher total porosity under pines. The matrix was …

Review Of 3d Visualization Tool Usage For Select Manufacturing Firms, Damarius J. Washington

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research is to assist business decision makers who choose software upgrades and CIM application usage in manufacturing firms. They can then utilize this research to make informed decisions regarding production application usage within their business. The purpose of this research is to examine which methods and uses of virtual reality are helpful in increasing efficiency within the production and manufacturing of goods via case studies, interviews with manufacturing personnel, ai1d most importantly a survey .. of manufacturing professionals. The survey will be sent to manufacturing employees within an agricultural equipment corporation.

Senior Thesis Work, Corey Jansen

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

In closing, it is important to remember, as stated earlier, that no one can prove exactly what it was that the authors of Genesis were trying to get across to us. It is valid to note, however, that the stories they were trying to get across were intended for and more properly understood by the people at that time and place. While they form the basis of many of our beliefs in Christianity, they weren't written with the realization that thousands of years later there would be great scientific discoveries that would teach us more about the world and about …

Mapping Wetlands And Potential Wetland Restoration Areas In Black Hawk County, Iowa Using Object-Oriented Classification And A Gis-Based Model, James Harken

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Wetlands are transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic systems that provide many benefits, including: floodwater retention, non-point pollution treatment, wildlife habitat, and soil-erosion control. Wetlands in Iowa have decreased over 95% in the last 200 years. Therefore, there is a need to map and monitor these resources, as well as to determine potential sites for wetland restoration. In Black Hawk County, wetland maps are outdated, and ground surveys have proved to be too time-consuming and expensive. Traditional pixel-based automated classifiers of remotely-sensed imagery have also proven to be inaccurate in classifying wetlands because of spectral confusion. This study tests multispectral …

The Impact Of The Iowa Children's Water Festival On The Children's Attitudes And Behaviors Toward The Environment, Sang-Min Kim

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

As a result of the growing concern about environmental issues, many countries have developed mechanisms and regulations directed at protection and conservation of the environment. As a part of this movement, many governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGO) have launched a variety of environmental education programs, in an attempt to promote awareness of environmental issues. The Iowa Children’s Water Festival (ICWF) is an annual half-day environmental education program in Iowa. The goal of the ICWF is to provide educational opportunities throughout the state to K-5 children and to educate customers of tomorrow on the importance of safe, reliable drinking water (ICWF, …

A Comparison Of Land Use And Nonpoint Source Pollution In The Cedar River Tributaries In Iowa, Chad Levi Fields

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A comparative water analysis on major Cedar River tributaries was conducted to determine nutrient and sediment concentration, nutrient loads, and watershed land use during the spring and summer of 2002. The Cedar River watershed is located on a primarily agricultural land, and has a drainage area of20,242 km2. The watershed extends from southern Minnesota to southeastern Iowa, where it joins the Iowa River which subsequently flows into the Mississippi River. Past studies have concluded that the Cedar River contributes much of the nutrients entering the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. These nutrients then contribute to the zone of …

Modeling And Measuring The Dispersion Of Odors From Hog Confinements, François Béra

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A comparison was made between predicted and measured odor concentration downwind of two hog finishing confinements. Two Gaussian dispersion models, STINK.BAK and AERMOD, were used. The experimental cases examined odor emanating from a mechanically-ventilated facility and a curtain-sided facility during summer 2003. A field olfactometer was used to measure odor concentration. The odor concentrations served as input to STINK.BAK, which then estimated the odor emission rate from the confinement. AERMOD used this emission rate and other meteorological data to predict the peak concentration of odor around the confinement over the sampling hour. The calculated odor emission rates are slightly higher …

The Implementation Of National Science Education Standards By Ninth Grade Science Teachers In Northeast Iowa, Richard Hofmeyer

Graduate Research Papers

A battle is occurring for the hearts and minds of the science teachers of this country. On one side are the constructivist methods (inquiry-based science) put forward by the science education reformers, which are a paradigm shift in the methods and curricula of most science classrooms in this country, while the other side contains the traditional methods and curricula generally in use today, espoused by many science teachers, administrators, school board members, and parents. Although this appears to be a yes-or-no question-'Has the science teacher switched to constructivist methods?'-it is more involved than that. An entire continuum scale exists between …

The Welsh Language: Cultural Preservation Or A Losing Battle?, Kim Mercer

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Wales, the tiny country that along with Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England makes up the United Kingdom, has always been a land of great contrasts and conflicts. From the rocky northern crags of Snowdonia to the sunny (for Britain) beaches of South Wales, the land itself seems to foster divisions, cultural and political as well as physical. The Welsh are likewise a mixed population, containing major populations of English immigrants and other "foreigners" drawn to the country for job opportunities, political refuge, as well as retirees enthralled with the landscape and change of pace from the rapid urbanization of much …

Educational Change Process: A Case Study Of A Rural School District's Reading Reform, Barbara M. Havel Bohach

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Beginning reading instruction is the subject of much debate in educational fields as well as in the political arena. The product of such debates is often a push to reform reading programs and teachers are targeted as the ones to carry out these reforms. If reading educators have been actively involved in a reading change process, what are their concerns about change and the influence of mandated legislation?

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine how teachers and administrators initiated and implemented a balanced reading innovation. It also investigated how the Concerns-Based Adoption Model identified teachers' concerns …

A Case Study Of Senior Students' Perceptions Of Factors That Shape Aspirations In One Low-Income Rural Iowa High School, Louise Elizabeth Esveld

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Rural Iowa high school graduates from districts enrolling fewer than 600 students are more likely than their more urban peers to be economically disadvantaged as measured by eligibility for free and reduced cost meals. They are also less likely to aspire to high levels of educational attainment. Over the last decade, the percentage of graduates from small, rural schools intending to pursue any postsecondary education or training has approached or exceeded the percentage in more urban districts. However, among rural graduates with postsecondary intentions, the ranks of those students planning to pursue a four-year degree or higher remain disproportionately thin. …

From Ltoj : The Effects Of An Assessment Approach On Student Achievement In Mathematics At The Middle School Level, Toni Andersen

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated the effectiveness of the assessment approach From LtoJ as applied to the development of procedural skills and conceptual understandings in mathematics at the eighth grade level. The focal question of this study was: Does the literature support the assessment process used in the From LtoJ program? The information was gathered from approximately one hundred students taking pre-algebra in a three-year span. The curriculum database focused on the essential information a student must acquire in the areas of curriculum vocabulary and concepts, as well as their computational ability with fractions. Each week, random items were selected from the …

Sound Waves: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Brian Howes

Graduate Research Papers

Physics is a subject that can be taught is such a way that it can range from a conceptual focus with very little mathematics integration or with a mathematical focus that includes the integration of calculus. At Hempstead High School in Dubuque, Iowa, physics is taught somewhere in the middle with a mathematical focus that includes the integration of algebra. However, many students take physics and pre-calculus in the same year and some were realizing that a couple of main concepts in physics and precalculus were very similar, such as vectors and waves. The problem was that these two classes …

Standards Based Recommendations For K-8 Science Curriculum At Independence Community School District, Jan Reed

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the gaps, redundancies, and conceptual inconsistencies present in the Independence Community School District K-8 science curriculum. The study was divided into four chapters with the first chapter providing an introduction, followed with a chapter laying out the background and framework. Chapter three consists of the method to create the product and the product itself which include the National Science Education Standards in one section and spreadsheet matrices in the traditional science content areas of life, earth/space, and physical science, science as inquiry, and science and technology for grades K-4 and grades 5-8 …

Multiple Intelligences Of Young Adolescents, Kelly A. Schloss

Graduate Research Papers

This study investigated how multiple intelligences related specifically to young adolescents. Self-perceptions of seventh and eighth graders, attending a large middle school and a moderately sized junior high in Iowa, were compared. Intelligence categories rated by students included intrapersonal, interpersonal, body/kinesthetic, mathematical/logical, verbal/linguistic, visual/spatial, and music/rhythmic.

Implications for this research include utilizing activity based instruction, promoting risk free learning opportunities for girls, implementing developmentally responsive practices at the middle level, providing educational support for low socio-economic students who may lack other resources often needed for success, and using visual, kinesthetic and musical approaches to learning for learning disabled students.

A Preferred Vision For Leading Elementary Schools : A Reflective Essay, Ellen M. Williams

Graduate Research Papers

This reflection paper affords the rare opportunity to sit back and think about this course of study and how I ended up at this particular juncture in life. I have completed many classes, and all I have taken away is a grade. This assignment has given rise to the discovery that there is a foundation and value system at the root of my professional life. That value system is mine, and I am building on an existing foundation that realizes the necessity of education and sound leadership.