Digital Commons Network^™

Learning To Write, Writing To Learn: Cedar Valley High School Teachers' Use Of Formative Assessment, Kenna Marie Koster

Honors Program Theses

My goal for this thesis, as well as for my time at UNI, was to examine pedagogies that will inform my future practice as an English teacher, enabling me to provide a better learning environment for my future students through various means of assessment. In this study high school English teachers in three towns in the Midwest were interviewed to find out: (1) What is really going on in the writing classroom in terms of writing assessment? (2) How is formative assessment specifically being used in the writing classroom? And (3) Does the teacher find these methods effective? Speaking to …

The Effects Of Self-Disclosure In Interpersonal Relationships Post-Sexual Assault: Giving Survivors A Voice, Annaliese Johnson

Iowa Journal of Communication

Sexual violence is an ongoing troubling issue in America, especially sexual violence against women. In situations of sexual assault, survivors' voices are often silenced due to the presence of rape culture, a complex and deeply ingrained entity, which perpetuates a society in which victims are blamed, and perpetrators are protected. Previous literature on how and why survivors discuss their experiences of assault, and the effects of survivors engaging in interpersonal self-disclosure, is scarce and only scrapes the surface of survivors' stories of disclosures. This study hopes to better explore the thoughts and feelings of young adult female sexual assault survivors …

Organized Gaming And Its Effect On Collegiate Academics, Mark Cochran

Honors Program Theses

With the emergence of gaming as an ever more popular pass time, and professional level eSports gaining steam, collegiate student organizations are beginning to reflect this change as well. This study of 166 college students from across the United States addresses the rise of gaming organizations and their subsequent effects of collegiate academics, namely grade point averages (GPA). The results suggest that participation in an organization dedicated to gaming results in a slightly lower GPA than those involved in other organizations, but still higher than average pointing towards factors of involvement still benefiting students. An important factor to note is …

Effective Leadership: Prior Research Vs. The Millennials, Marissa Heinzerling

Honors Program Theses

When the phrase “effective leadership” is heard, the first things most people think of are the leader’s traits and behaviors. However, most fail to consider the role that followers play in leadership. Leaders must adapt to their followers' needs, which do not always remain the same between generations and genders. As leaders throughout organizations strive to remain successful, they must understand how millennials differ in terms of what they consider to be an example of effective leadership. The existing research regarding leadership effectiveness has yet to consider the followers in the millennial generation. The following paper contains a literature review …

A Literature Review Examining The Best Practices Of Volunteer Programs, Cara K. Reilly

Graduate Research Papers

Many organizations utilize volunteers and understand the countless benefits they add to an organization. Volunteers provide essential services in a cost-effective manner, connect organizations to the community, engage in promotional activities and many more helpful activities. The national value of volunteer's worth per hour is estimated at $23.56 (Independent Sector, 2016). However, one must know that a quantifiable value placed on a person's skill, time, and effort is complicated. Volunteers' worth and services exceed any monetary value.

Volunteer coordinators can measure the success of their volunteer programs by their retention rates. Keeping a high retention rate is important to any …

Representations Of Health And Wellness In Children's Literature, Emily Kate Murphy

Honors Program Theses

The term health is multifaceted. Health can refer to one’s physical, spiritual, or mental state, among other things. The goal of this study was to determine how educators can use children’s literature to support students being introduced to healthy habits regarding these aspects at a young age, through children’s literature. A content analysis was conducted over a selection of 16 children’s literature texts. It was organized by thematic categories matching the aforementioned facets of health and assessed through a Likert scale. This analysis resulted in the development of a website intended to serve as a tool for teachers to implement …

Affective Risk Perception In Automotive Environments, Dane Atkins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Traversing the automotive environment exposes drivers to a risk of property damage, injury, and death. This risk varies across the road network. This research questions whether drivers are capable of accurately perceiving their own exposure to risk in this environment. Analysis begins with an assessment of risk exposure at roadway intersections (as measured in terms of crash frequency, severity, and mixed-weighting methods). This assessment provides risk indices for a cross-section of road intersections across an urban Iowa community. These indices are then used in the development of an experimental visual cognition survey used to record risk perceptions of roadway sites …

Resilience In Undergraduate Students: The Relation Between Personality, Social Support, And Cortisol Levels, Elisheva Joy Havlik

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the current study was to investigate resilience in relation to personality, social support, and cortisol levels in response to a stress induction in a sample of 174 undergraduate students. It was hypothesized that resilience would be positively related to personality traits and perceived social support, and also would predict cortisol levels at baseline, reactivity to stress induction, and recovery after stress induction. Additionally, exploratory analyses investigated the moderating effects between variables to explain the process of resilience further. Participants completed self-report questionnaires (i.e. the CD-RISC, BFI, and the MPSS), provided saliva samples via a passive drool collection …

Exploring The Academic, Social, And Cultural Experiences Of English Language Learners From Saudi Arabia At A Midwest University In The U.S., Sukainah A. Al Subia

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The world is experiencing an increasing number of international students who leave their countries to study abroad. The value and benefit of studying abroad influences many students to go on this educational journey. Research conducted over the past 20 years indicates that studying abroad provides both rewarding and challenging experiences. For example, studying abroad exposes students to exciting new cultures and places, developing academic/language skills and gaining social and cultural exposures which in turn enrich their global experience (Geeraert et al., 2014; Lillyman & Bennett, 2014; Wu et al., 2015). However, studying abroad can also pose certain challenges, including loneliness, …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Religion And Forgiveness, Desislava S. Stoycheva

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Forgiveness has been found important for human social functioning within and across cultures. Empirical findings from the last four decades pointed to the role of forgiveness in improving physical, mental, and spiritual health. As a result, forgiveness practices have been extended into the fields of counseling psychology, education, and peace-making. Other studies suggest that religious commitment increases a person’s likelihood to forgive and that practicing forgiveness mediates the effect of religion on health. Schema Theory was used to interpret religious background or lack of religion as factors shaping specific mental structures. These mental structures could lead to different forgiveness schemata, …

Pedagogical Contraband: A Phenomenological Approach To Understanding Student Engagement During Simulations, Stephen Austin Henderson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study is to explore the lived experiences of students who are taught using simulations in survey history courses. Although simulations have been studied in a variety of domains, few studies have examined the use of simulations to teach history. Further, most of the previous research on simulations has been quantitative in nature, and one goal of the proposed study is to go into greater depth than typically allowed for by quantitative methodologies and examine the lived experiences of students in a college-level history class who are participating in simulations. Results suggest that the five phases of …

The Moral Motivations Of Negative Attitudes Toward Transgender People, Hailey Annette Hatch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Transgender individuals are at higher risk for experiencing sexual assault and police brutality than the general population (National Coalition for Anti-Violence Programs, 2013). These brutal acts are likely the result of negative attitudes. Negative attitudes toward transgender people are related to individual differences in psychological authoritarianism, political conservatism, religiosity, and low personal contact with sexual minorities (Norton & Herek, 2013). This study explored underlying moral mechanisms that may also contribute to negative attitudes toward transgender people – specifically mechanisms involving generalized disgust (i.e., purity) and harm. Moral foundations theory (Haidt & Graham, 2007) suggests that disgust is the underlying mechanism …

The Effectiveness Of A "Patient Discharge Information" Booklet In Patient Education Programs In Saudi Arabia, Amani Mohammed Al Rebeh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of the Patient Discharge Information (PDI) booklet on the knowledge, attitude, and behaviors of participants who were cesarean patients in local hospitals in Saudi Arabia. This study investigated the following two research questions: (1) does the participant have information, resources, and understand basic personal health information regarding her health conditions including diagnosis, treatment, self-care management, medication instructions, normal expected symptoms, dangerous signs and what to do, as well as lifestyle changes?; and (2) how does patient discharge information provided by the hospital make a difference in participants’ knowledge, attitude, and …

Infants And Toddlers Block Play: Stem In The Blocks Center [Infants-Toddlers], Regents’ Center For Early Developmental Education

STEM Experiences for Classrooms

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Massage Therapy On Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Carli Mueller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Context: Cupping massage and petrissage may be beneficial in the treatment of DOMS, however, there is limited research on the application and use of cupping massage on DOMS. This study examines the effectiveness of petrissage versus cupping massage on the pain associated with DOMS among a healthy population. Objective: To determine the efficacy of cupping massage in comparison to petrissage on the treatment of pain associated with acute muscle injury. Design: Experimental, single blinded study with stratification of participants. Participants: Thirty-two healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 22. Methods: Participants underwent a protocol to induce DOMS on the …

Perceived Causes And Methods Of Examination Malpractice In The Malawian Education System: A Case Study Of Secondary Schools In South East Education Division (Seed), Fiddelis Blessings Makaula

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this study was to examine perceived causes and methods of examination malpractice in the Malawian education system.

Faculty To Faculty Incivility In Iowa Nursing Education Programs, Candace Chihak

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Uncivil work relationships are common in several professions, including nursing. Experiences of incivility within nursing education have been well described in the relationships between students, students to faculty, and faculty to students, however, there is less empirical evidence on the presence of incivility between nursing faculty. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the perception of incivility in faculty-to-faculty relationships in nursing education. Additionally, this paper will look for relationships between nurse educators and their intentions to stay within higher education. Methods: Nursing faculty from one Midwest state were surveyed utilizing the Workplace Incivility Civility Survey (WICS). Additionally, …

University Of Northern Iowa Graduate Program Survey 2017-2018, Megan Vogt-Kostner

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

In 2017-2018, the Graduate Program Survey was administered by the University of Northern Iowa's Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness using the online survey tool, Qualtrics. The purpose of the study was to gain feedback about the educational experiences of UNI graduates. The survey results help the university provide a better graduate experience for future students.

Annual Report Of The Registrar 2017/2018, University Of Northern Iowa

Institutional Effectiveness & Planning Documents

Contents:

--- Definitions
--- Some Comparisons
--- Annual Report Data
--- Summary of Attendance
--- Attendance by Session
--- Degrees Granted 2017/18
--- Degree Summary 2017/18
--- Program Certificates 2017/18
--- Miscellaneous Enrollment Information
--- Degrees Granted by College, Degree and Racial/Ethnic Classification

Emerging Adults' Parent-Child Privacy Management Surrounding Topics Of Career, Religion, And Politics, Maria Butauski

Iowa Journal of Communication

Guided by communication privacy management theory (Petronio, 2002), this study highlights the role of emerging adults' perceptions of parents' behaviors in discussions of career, religion, and politics in their management of the parent-child privacy boundary. Parental behaviors perceived as supportive were associated with more openness and less topic avoidance when discussing career, religion, and politics. However, parental behaviors perceived as interference or neglect were associated with less openness and more topic avoidance across the topics addressed Findings and directions for future research are discussed

Showing Your Pride: Image As Interpellation In The Pride Study, Valerie Rubinsky

Iowa Journal of Communication

This personal essay investigates the online presentation of The PRIDE Study: a longitudinal health study for members of the LGBTQ community that aims to improve understanding of LGTBQ health care issues and increase the wellbeing of the group. The study utilizes the rhetorical concepts of interpellation and identification to examine the PRIDE Study Website.

Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Experiences Of Adolescent Students Attending A Virtual School, Allan G. Nelson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In the past 20 years distance education has evolved rapidly. The accessibility to online learning or virtual schools has become a viable option for many students. Virtual schools offer students instructional flexibility regarding time, place, and pace.

Improvements in distance education fostered rapid growth of online learning. The number of online learners grew nearly ten-fold from 2001 to 2015 (Clark, 2001; Watson et al., 2015). However, Watson (2016) estimated only 10% of online learners represented full-time virtual school students. Although face-to-face instruction is preferred by most K-12 learners, some learners argued their needs were best met by virtual schools (Green, …

An Exploration Of Teacher Dispositions: Expectation Of Potential, Kathleen Louise Saleh

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This qualitative investigation of three, K-12, in-service special education teachers’ dispositions employs the pillars of Disability Studies in Education (Connor, Gabel, Gallagher, & Morton, 2008) and Villegas’ (2007) definition of disposition to interpret the observational and interview data. Central to the study are the teachers’ beliefs about their students’ learning potential and the impact of those beliefs on their instructional behaviors—dispositions—that support or hinder social justice. Consideration is also given to the educational and life experiences that the educators identify as contributing to their professional disposition. Analysis of the data demonstrated five primary themes. (1) Disposition, although influential in the …

Fall Commencement [Program], December 16, 2017, 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.

The Wright Message, 2017-2018, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside this issue:

-- New Faculty
--Faculty Spotlight
--Around Wright Hall
--Interview
--Alumni Spotlight
--Hari Shankar Lecture
--Wright Hall Centenary
--News from the CTLM
--Student Spotlights
--Mathematical Ideas Conference
--Donor Spotlight
--Retiring Faculty
--Classrooms Named in Honor of Faculty
--Contributions to an Account – Recognition
--Department Funds

Challenging Elementary Learners With Programmable Robots During Free Play And Direct Instruction, Kimberly S. Mccoy-Parker, Lindsey N. Paull, Audrey C. Rule, Sarah E. Montgomery

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

Computer programming skills are important to many current careers; teaching robot coding to elementary students can start a positive foundation for technological careers, develop problem-solving skills, and growth mindsets. This study, through a repeated measures design involving students in two classrooms at two widelyseparated grade levels (first graders aged 6-7 years and fifth graders aged 10-11 years), determined if allowing students to challenge themselves with coding exercises in the experimental condition resulted in greater learning and more positive attitudes than a more structured set of exercises provided by the teacher in the control condition. Background instruction in coding and using …

Cinematherapy In Gifted Education Identity Development: Integrating The Arts Through Stem-Themed Movies, Timothy C. Kangas, Michelle Cook, Audrey C. Rule

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

Gifted students, because of their advanced development compared to peers, have emotional needs that require differentiated education programs. Asynchronous social and emotional development of gifted students often leads to identity issues. Cinematherapy can be used to help gifted students explore their identities through analysis of the actions of gifted characters in films. This practical article suggests STEM-themed movies with characters facing challenges useful for gifted student identity development. The Autonomous Learners Model is used to classify gifted learners in the movies to assist teachers in matching movies to the needs of gifted learners. Tables of STEM-themed movies with gifted characters …

How The Arts Standards Support Stem Concepts: A Journey From Stem To Steam, Ksenia S. Zhbanova

Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions

This issue of the Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions is focused on the effects of integrating arts with STEM areas, an important and widely-considered topic in education today. This editorial provides an overview of the current state of the arts and STEM areas integration paradigm, an analysis of the benefits of the arts integration with the STEM subjects, and an overview of the history of the arts anchor standards. Comparison and connections between the National Arts Core anchor arts standards, the scientific method, engineering design process, and the 5E learning cycle are also illuminated. Summaries of the practical …

University Of Northern Iowa Faculty Senate Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. Faculty Senate.

Documents - Faculty Senate

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