Digital Commons Network^™

Integrating International And U.S. Students: A Strategic Plan For Cultural Appreciation, Mary Gill

Iowa Journal of Communication

American colleges and universities historically have had increasing interest in international students for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, for many if not most of these institutions, too little attention has been focused on developing integration plans whereby international and U.S. students are truly integrated in a co-learning environment academically and socially. A culture-specific integration model for minimizing challenges and maximizing global learning for international as well as U.S. students is offered.

Multilingual Theatre: Community Value And Future Education Necessity, Diana Milree Garles

Honors Program Theses

This project is the culmination of my two passions: theatre and language. For me, these two things are priceless pieces of human identity, whether used consciously or not. I imagine there are very few people who have never played a role, or portrayed a certain character to embody a facet of their personality. I believe this research presents a natural, practical option for community and educational development through the use of theatre techniques. Language is a supporting element in theatre, and theatre can use language as an educational tool for exposure and for further understanding of many different cultures and …

An Analysis Of The Dynamic Indicators Of Basic Early Literacy Skills (Dibels) Assessment, Lisa Doering

Graduate Research Papers

The inception of the No Child Left Behind Act as well as the report published by the National Reading Panel have caused a sense of urgency in early intervention for students with high literacy needs. Therefore, students are being required more frequently to take high stakes assessments at a younger and younger age. Many schools use the DIBELS assessment, but there are also many other assessments available. This paper presents research as to the validity of the DIBELS assessment as well as describes several other available literacy assessments to use either in conjunction with or in isolation from DIBELS. This …

Middle School Teacher And Students’ Responses On The Usefulness Of The Polar Activity Monitor, Beverly J. Ahern

Graduate Research Papers

Polar Electro has designed a new activity monitor that has not been used in schools before. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate usability and user satisfaction by gathering user comments and suggestions. With the ever-growing concern over the activity levels of children, many companies are developing new devices to accurately measure activity patterns and movement. Measuring physical activity in children is important because the obesity rates of children have continued to rise at alarming rates. Lack of adequate amounts of physical activity is one cause to the rise in childhood obesity. By monitoring their physical activity, physical educators …

An Analysis Of Recruitment And Retention Strategies For Staff In The Camp Adventure Child And Youth Services Program, Allison Leigh Bickle

Graduate Research Papers

Recruitment and retention of staff is a key component to the success of any organization. Organizational survival and growth is dependent upon attracting, recruiting and retaining quality staff, both paid and volunteer. It is imperative that any organization effectively recruit as well as retain the staff that they have invested time and money in developing. Within an organization, the longer an individual is involved or employed, the more knowledge, responsibility and leadership are developed to assist in furthering the mission and goals of the organization. In addition to paid staff, volunteers should be highly recruited, carefully selected, and worked to …

Issues With Youth Fitness Testing: A Review Of Current Literature, Scott Steven Weinheimer

Graduate Research Papers

This review of the literature will look into previous literature that has been published on issues that can affect the results of fitness testing. First, an overview of fitness testing in the United States will occur. Then various social issues that can arise because of fitness testing and how they may affect the outcomes of fitness testing will be described. Lastly, problems associated with fitness testing procedures as well as possible ways to improve fitness testing procedures will be explained.

First Year Experiences Of Women In Nonprofit Organizations: Does The Current Literature Correspond With The Reality Of The Office?, Julie Payne

Graduate Research Papers

During their first year the role of a non profit executive director can be a thankless pursuit. In many instances, it is impossible for them to be fully prepared for the enormous task ahead of them. A study by Bell, Moyers, & Wolfred (2006) found that 65% of the executive directors in a national sample of nonprofit agencies were in their first executive director position; over half of them had held the job for three years or less. While most reported that they enjoyed their job, a third indicated an intention to leave it within two years, and even among …

No Child Left Behind: Advantages And Disadvantages, Kelly M. Rohlfsen

Graduate Research Papers

The No Child Left Behind Act is quickly approaching its deadline of 2014. With the expectation being 100% of students in the United States being proficient according to state guidelines, many people, including teachers, administrators and parents are questioning the reality of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and whether or not the Nation will meet the expectation set forth. This paper describes a select few advantages and disadvantages of the No Child Left Behind Act, and how those various aspects of the law impact teachers and students alike. In addition, this paper also describes the inconsistencies between states in how …

Hope And Despair In Young Adult Science Fiction, Erin Stohlmeyer

Graduate Research Papers

As young adult science fiction evolves, it can be difficult to understand the themes and tones found within the genre. The purpose of this research was to discover the hopeful messages or the lack of hope in current young adult science fiction. The themes found during the research process included survival, the search for identity/humanity, post-apocalypse/governmental control, medical advancement (technology), and adventure. Thirteen novels written between 2005 and 20 IO were analyzed for themes and messages. Many novels were found to have vastly different societies, governments, and even landscapes. Some of the differences were due to war, climate change, and …

A Literature Review Of Interpersonal Relationships Among Youth In Organized Leisure Activities, Ginnell C. Harlin

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this literature review is to explore interpersonal relationships among youth in organized leisure activities. This review seeks to explore the nature and the role of interpersonal relationships as well as the affect youth involvement has for youth when participating in organized youth activities. Specifically this literature review will look at scholarship, research studies, inclusive of theories and models associated with interpersonal relationships of youth and organized leisure activities.

The Presence Of Gender Stereotypes In Children's Picture Book Illustrations, Jenahlee Chamberlain

Graduate Research Papers

Numerous studies have been conducted throughout the past several decades on the topic of gender stereotypes present in children's picture books. The purpose of this quantitative content analysis is to examine the portrayal of males and females and the representation of gender roles in children's picture book illustrations. This analysis of 43 children's picture books awarded the Caldecott Award or Caldecott Honor between 2001 and 2011 sought to determine whether or not 21st century award winning children's picture book illustrations portrayed gender stereotypes. Each title was analyzed using a content analysis form to test the three hypotheses for this study. …

Identifying Step Count Cut-Offs For Middle School Students, Julie Zensen

Graduate Research Papers

With physical activity levels continuing to decrease and obesity rates continuing to increase, it is important to set specific physical activity guidelines for children to reach in order to ensure health enhancement. A step count cut-off is a specific threshold that once met, is equivalent to participation in the recommended >60minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on a daily basis. The purpose of this study is to find developmentally-specific, step count cut-offs for both boys and girls. This study focused specifically on middle school students from four schools in a Midwestern town in Iowa. There were 88 total participants: 31 …

Elementary School Teacher And Students’ Responses On The Usefulness Of The Polar Activity Monitor, Blaire Baldwin

Graduate Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Donor Cultivation: An Examination Of The Current Recession And The Resulting Nonprofit Dilemma, Elizabeth Hackbarth

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comprehensive literature review that examines the primary implications of the economic crisis for donor motives to give to nonprofit organizations and cultivation best practices.

The UNI athletic department experienced a budget cut from the state of Iowa for 2009 that amounted to an immediate $150,000 and will foresee another $100,000 cut each year over the next five years. Athletic administration is currently developing a plan to adapt to the new changes in the budget.

Resourcefulness will be expected from employees, programs may be asked to rearrange their budgets, staff may experience …

The Serious Leisure Perspective, Patrick Anthony Beets

Graduate Research Papers

This review will address the relationship of serious leisure that involve youth and will help create a study that can be used based on a participant's experiences. The specific question examined in this paper is: Can serious leisure be used as a vehicle to help youth to develop positive skills that will help increase meaningfulness and battle depression?

Misconceptions In Middle School Life Science And Strategies Teachers Can Use To Change Them, Jody L. Fairbanks

Graduate Research Papers

Misconceptions and alternative conceptions refer to students' "conceptions that are different from those held by the scientific community" (Sungur, Tekkaya, & Geban, 2001, p. 91). All students have misconceptions due to prior experiences they have had. Students' alternative conceptions are problems for educators because they can block new learning (Sewell, 2002). Therefore, teachers play a crucial role in helping students construct new knowledge upon whatever foundation that already exists. This review of literature examines the findings of research regarding misconceptions, common misconceptions that students have in life science, and how teachers can teach difficult concepts so students are more likely …

Pce Groundwater Quality Assessment Of The University Of Northern Iowa Campus Area, Brian Gedlinske

Graduate Research Papers

Perchloroethylene (PCE), is a colorless, nonflammable, and relatively insoluble chlorinated solvent once widely used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing operations. Because of its past widespread use, poor solvent management practices, and environmental persistence, PCE is a common contaminant found in groundwater supplies. Potential health concerns include liver problems and increased cancer risk.

This research paper presents the findings of an effort to better characterize the spatial, temporal, and transport attributes of a PCE groundwater plume that exists within the Devonian aquifer underlying the University of Northern Iowa campus and the surrounding area in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Findings reveal the …

Is She Real Or Is She Wonder Woman? Finding The Authentic Woman In Graphic Novels And Comic Strips, Michael Welch

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to discover whether or not women are portrayed in an authentic manner in comic books and graphic novels. This study provides a brief history of comic books and graphic novels from the late 19th Century to early 21st Century. The study then reviews qualitative studies on the gender roles of women in graphic novels, women in prime time television, collection development and graphic novels, children's animated television, young adult's perceptions of televised women heroes, gender and racial stereotypes in newspaper comics, and "wonder women" or women in heroic roles in comic books and television. …

Depression And Poor Self-Care In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Zahra Hamza Alowa

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of depression on self-care of patients with type 2 diabetes aged 35 to 60 years. In this paper, the relevant literature is reviewed and salient issues discussed include depression in patients with type 2 diabetes under which prevalence and incident, mortality and morbidity and costs are discussed. Further, literature related to the association between depression and self-care is reviewed after which the association between poor self-care and the risks of diabetes complications is discussed.

Not Giving Back: The Social Exchange Concern Hypothesis Of Physical Disability Stigma, Thomas P. Dirth

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The phenomenon of physical disability stigma has been examined from many different perspectives, but a comprehensive theory of its functionality has yet to be tested. The evolutionary theory of stigma provides two compelling hypotheses, for stigma in general, and physical disability stigma in particular. The pathogen avoidance hypothesis maintains that stigma is an evolved response for protection against infectious diseases, whereas the social exchange concern hypothesis proposes that stigma serves to maximize fitness by cueing which interaction partners will contribute or detract most from one's well-being. The social exchange concern hypothesis frames physical disability stigma, especially, in a way that …

The Effects Of Bat Velocity And Bat Quickness On Offensive Statistical Performance In Ncaa Division I Female Softball Players, Thomas Manford Flack

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of bat velocity and quickness on offensive statistical performance of six members of the University of Northern Iowa's women's Division I softball team. Each of the participants was requested to engage in a warm-up and stretching routine to minimize injuries due to the high force generated during isometric contraction and maximal swings. Data collection procedures were performed in one session for each subject. Reflective spherical markers were placed on the distal end of the softball bat, the proximal end of the bat as well as an additional marker in the …

Using Novels In The Science Classroom, Hannah Llewellyn Haarhues

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Reading is a key factor in the success of students through their school years as well as their lives. With Americans reading less and falling behind in subjects as they progress through the school system, reading is the subject area that benefits all aspects of their schooling. Studies done from the 1990s on have shown successful reading programs improve standardized test scores of school age students. Trade books in place of textbooks had been explored, but only in middle school or younger. This study uses a survey to explore high school biology students' opinions on reading and science before and …

Piano Graduate Recital, Marcos Grano De Oro

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Domenico Scarlatti was born in Naples on October 26, 1685. He was born to Alessandro Scarlatti and Antonia Anzaloni and is regarded as one of the most creative artists in the history of music. He was an outstanding composer and harpsichordist. Scarlatti received his early training from his father, who was a music teacher. There are no formal records that Scarlatti obtained his musical training from any conservatory, or music school, even though there were other institutions. The conservatory of Naples gained great popularity and fame during Scarlatti 's time. Therefore, Scarlatti could have received musical training from the conservatory. …

Advanced Information Processing Technologies And Police Discretion, Kevin Wayne Howard

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This research seeks to evaluate the influence of advanced information processing technologies on police discretion. I have developed three propositions. First, advanced information processing technologies used in municipal law enforcement enable policing managers to easily collect and analyze large amounts of information. Second, the information acquired from these same technologies is used to create and/or modify bureaucratic rules regarding police work. Third, this combination of technological and bureaucratic processes has led to a reduction of patrol officers' discretion. Advanced information processing technologies include crime mapping, video surveillance, mobile data terminals (in-car computers), global positioning systems, and computer statistics (Compstat), a …

The Role Of Work Environment On Employee Job Engagement, Micayla Michelle Evers

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Employee job engagement is an increasingly popular and important construct in organizations in the United States. Job engagement is widely considered to have a strong influence on employee job performance, turnover rates, burnout, etc. Many variables contribute to this important construct, and work environment encompasses one of these variables. This study addresses the impact of physical work environment and social work environment in predicting employee job engagement. The current study found that both physical work environment and social work environment were significant predictors of employee job engagement and that physical work environment had a slightly larger impact. Exploratory analyses were …

The Use Of Visuals In Health Education, Ying Yan Vigenia Njoo-Lau

Graduate Research Papers

America has a very complex health care system. It is often required a welleducated individual "to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions" (Nielsen-Bohlman, 2004). It is also required multiple skills, like reading, writing, listening, speaking, mathematic, and decision-making (Safeer & Keenan, 2005).

90 million American adults have limited health literacy to navigate of the health care system in the United States. People with limited health literacy have trouble communicating with their health care providers, understand and adherence of medical information, medical usage. $73 billion health care cost was estimated in 1998 …

Iowa Journal Of Communication, Volume 43, Number 1, Fall 2011 [Download Entire Issue]

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Front Matter - Table Of Contents

Iowa Journal of Communication

No abstract provided.

Ingredients Of Civic Engagement In Intercultural Communication Education, Satoshi Toyosaki, Ana Cruz, Mariko Izumi, Naomi Kagawa, Mary Anna Kidd

Iowa Journal of Communication

This essay seeks to theorize the relationship between civic engagement and intercultural communication education. In order to articulate the notion of civic engagement, it engages in the discussion of civic engagement and intercultural communication education from multiple perspectives such as social scientific approaches, critical/cultural studies and rhetorical studies. In order to embody the notion of dialogue and co-constructive nature of knowledge at the heart of critical/intercultural communication education, this essay takes a dialogic format through which the notion of civic engagement and its role in intercultural communication education are negotiated, refined and articulated as constructs. By engaging with literature from …

Title Page - Table Of Contents

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

No abstract provided.