Digital Commons Network^™

Literature Review: Analyzing The Reasons Behind The Long-Standing Debate Of Evolution And Religion In America, Michelle Kathryn Matchell

Honors Program Theses

Evolution has been a widely studied and debated topic for centuries. Since the days of Greek philosophy, humans have been curious about the diversity of life and how it arose to what we see today. Interest in evolution flourished during the days of Charles Darwin when he and Alfred Russel Wallace developed the concept of natural selection. Now, evolution is an integral part of many scientific studies, especially genetics, developmental biology, geology, behavior studies and social sciences. According to Muhammad Ashraf, evolution can be considered ‘the cornerstone of modern science’ (Ashraf, 2016). On what would have been Darwin’s 201st birthday, …

La Discriminación Contra Los Latin@S, Lauren Swan

Honors Program Theses

Abstracto

Este estudio examina los diferentes tipos de discriminación con que se enfrentan los estudiantes universitarios latin@s en Iowa en sus vidas diarias. El estudio se enfoca en ambas la discriminación encubierta y la discriminación directa. Basado en el análisis de entrevistas etnográficas con ocho estudiantes que asisten a la Universidad del Norte de Iowa, los latin@s enfrentan la discriminación de tres maneras principales. La primera manera es debido a las suposiciones o los estereotipos. La segunda manera es por la otredad, o sea, concebir a los latin@s como extranjeros o no ser verdaderamente ‘americanos.’ Por último, a menudo, los …

A Study In Positive Psychology: An Analysis Of Pictured Victims And Empathetic Reaction, Alyssa Hanken

Honors Program Theses

Previous research suggests that people are more empathetic when they are introduced to a victim with a face, or an identifiable victim, rather than a victim with no picture associated with him or her. This study will test the validity of these claims through the application of the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire in one control group and one experimental group to determine if putting a face to a name actually does increase empathetic reactions. In the field of English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching, such empathy is extremely important as mainstream teachers are frequently unaware of the plight of immigrants …

Blended Learning And Second Language Acquisition In The Classroom, Victoria R. Hamilton

Graduate Research Papers

This review investigates using a blended learning environment within a second language setting. The literature review presented three main themes to be considered as these two contexts were united: learner engagement in differing environments and with different activities, learner perceptions, and the outcomes found from such combinations. Twenty-eight peer-reviewed journal articles were analyzed. It is found that blended environments seem to add novelty and increase motivation and engagement of students in these settings. However, the pedagogical implementation of active learning such as collaboration, providing feedback, and using activities that have a communicative purpose seems to yield the best results. Learner …

The Wright Message, 2018-2019, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Mathematics.

The Wright Message

Inside This Issue:
--New Faculty Faculty Spotlight Around Wright Hall
--Alumni Spotlight In Memoriam: Jack Wilkinson
--News from the CTLM
--Student Spotlights
--Donor Spotlight
--Alumni Updates
--Contributions to an Account – Recognition
--Department Funds
--Contribution Form

A Narrative Study: Utilizing Personal Strengths To Manage Foreign Language Anxiety, Lauren Anderson

Honors Program Theses

Foreign language anxiety develops when a student feels under pressure or uncomfortable in a foreign language-learning situation often because they are cognizant of their inability to project themselves in their target language as they do in their first. As a result, students may become nervous or overwhelmed and fear speaking in the target language. Many researchers and educators have recommended strategies to help students manage their foreign language anxiety. To continue expanding on these ideas, the purpose of this research is to investigate whether focusing on and using personal strengths will mitigate students’ foreign language anxiety and help improve their …

Gender Differences In Perceived Stigma Among Sexual Minorities And Their Related Health Practices, Sara Kay Richardson

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stigma, which is partially determined by social norms within specific cultures, can affect individuals in many ways such as direct negative treatment and discrimination as well as medical, social, and psychological disadvantages and problems. Lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals, and pansexuals have endured a long history of stigmatization in the United States (Herek, 1991). There is further evidence suggesting that bisexuals are especially susceptible to stigmatization, not only from heterosexuals (Herek, 2002), but from lesbian women and gay men as well (Ochs, 1996). I hypothesized that among sexual minorities men would report higher levels of perceived stigma than would women, …

A Song To Remember : The Effects Of Music Therapy On Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease, Gabrielle Woods

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this creative thesis is to communicate the effects MT and music being used therapeutically can have on three residents in the midstage of dementia caused by AD. Residents from Thalman Square Memory Care Unit at Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls, Iowa and Parker Place Retirement Community in Parkersburg, Iowa participated in the exploration of this project. Three participants’ personal responses to music were recorded and made into a video documentary. This unique video contribution encapsulated each resident’s raw emotion and experience to impart the benefits of music interventions for caregivers and the general public’s understanding.

An Examination Of The Moderating Role Of Hormones On The Relationship Between Sleep Patterns And Mood Regulation, Claire A. Guderjahn

Honors Program Theses

A large body of research focuses on the relationship between sleep and mental health. Poor emotional regulation is costly to the individual’s physical and mental health as well as the wellbeing of the community and economy. To further understand emotional regulation, the current study examines the potential interaction of sleep patterns and hormones. The goal of the current study was to isolate the potentially moderating role of hormones, specifically epinephrine and norepinephrine, as moderators in the relationship of sleep patterns and emotional regulation. The hypotheses were that (1) there would be a strong positive relationship between sleep patterns and emotional …

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 …

Mental Health Literacy: The Knowledge Of Mental Health Literacy And Help-Seeking Attitudes Among Ncaa Division I Student-Athletes And Non-Athletes, Danielle E. Schuck

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Context: By the age of 24 years, diagnosable mental disorders begin to develop in one out of four Americans (Kaier et al., 2015). Young people also have deficits in knowledge about mental health literacy. This deficiency is one reason why individuals lack the ability to recognize mental illness and the appropriate measures needed to take to seek professional help (Kelly et al., 2007). This study investigates the mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes of NCAA Division I student-athletes and non-athletes. Objective: Investigate the knowledge of mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes of collegiate student-athletes and non-athletes. Design: Non-experimental, correlation and …

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, …

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, …

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, …

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, …

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.

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.

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.

Teachers' Interactions With A Young Child With: Comparing Ipad And Non-Ipad Use, Sohyun Meacham, Saeed Almalki

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was investigating teachers' interaction with a young child with ASD when they were using iPad to support language and communication skills development. A case study method was applied. Business-as-usual classroom interaction was analyzed. Utterances were divided into two conditions (iPad-use and non-iPad-use) to compare effectiveness on supporting the child's engagement in teacher-child interaction. In addition, interviews with teachers were conducted to collect more information about their own perspectives regarding iPad use with the student with ASD. Results of the study indicate that child-teacher joint attention and teachers' verbal assistance happened more frequently when iPad was …

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 …

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 …