Digital Commons Network^™

Sociodemographic Factors Influencing Pandemic-Era Ehdi Use And Access, Nicole Perez, David Adkins, Marissa Schuh, Jennifer B. Shinn, Lori Travis, Matthew L. Bush

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic impact on Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs is unknown. This research evaluated sociodemographic factors influencing adherence to EDHI diagnostic testing and the incidence of infant hearing loss during the pandemic.

Method: We evaluated EHDI adherence and incidence of hearing loss in Kentucky before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, we evaluated the association of these outcomes to sociodemographic variables.

Results: There were 71,206 births and 1,385 referred infant hearing screening tests during the study period. Infants during the pandemic had a 24% lower odds of hearing testing adherence (OR …

Preliminary Validation Of The Conditioned Assessment Of Speech Production In Spanish, Alliete R. Alfano, Tan Li

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: This study focused on the preliminary concurrent validity between the CASP and CASP-S to answer the following questions: (1) Do obtained scores on the CASP-S correlate to the CASP? (2) Do the two assessments categorize children with and without hearing loss similarly in terms of vocal development?

Method: Eighteen Spanish-English bilingual children (12-43 months) participated in this study; 12 had typical hearing; 6 had severe-to-profound hearing loss. During the study, the clinician modeled specified vocalizations over Zoom for the parent to repeat, then the parent imitated the vocalization for the child to repeat. Approximately a week later, the CASP-S …

Journal Of Early Hearing Detection And Intervention: Volume 8 Issue 2, Pages 1-38

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

The Utah Statesman, November 6, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Empowering All Students To Participate: Utilizing Aac To Respond During Lessons, Robbie Cromwell

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Previous research indicates that frequent and active participation of all students (including diverse student groups) improves student outcomes, as does using a variety of methods to respond during classroom instruction. Current research is limited in examining two key areas: 1) Increasing active participation of AAC users by encouraging engagement through frequent response opportunities during instruction and 2) Utilizing a variety of response methods to enable participation during instruction. Given the gaps that exist in the research, the purpose of this study is to examine whether incorporating a variety of opportunities to respond has an impact on AAC user’s engagement and …

#Bodypositivity Or #Bodypolitics?: A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Body Positivity Myth Formed By Narratives Of Political Myth, Sydney Berenyi Lasike

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Body Positivity movement is well-known for advocating for the acceptance of all body types—including size, shape, color, and ability. Images online in support of the movement often showcase stretch marks, cellulite, and other “unattractive” bodily features to protest against the thin-ideal and strict standards of beauty placed upon women. Despite the goal to inspire self-love and celebration of all bodies, the hashtag #BodyPositivity has been taken-over by white, female influencers who have the idolized, female body. They contradict the original message of the movement through their posts on Instagram that centralize white feminine features and thin, Eurocentric bodies. This …

Gesture And Language In Children Enrolled In Early Intervention, Makenzy S. Turner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Language development in preschool-age children is important, as children with early language delays are at risk for difficulties in other areas such as literacy skills, behavioral skills, and social/emotional skills. Gesture has been found to be linked to language skills in young children. This study examined gesture use and language development in a group of young children receiving early intervention services.

This study found that children with language delays at 24 months used fewer gestures during play. Additionally, gesture use was positively associated with other factors that may influence language, such as parent responsiveness and household income. Furthermore, 24-month child …

Using Natural Language Processing To Quantify The Efficacy Of Language Simplification As A Communication Strategy, Brian Nalley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

People with communication disorders often experience difficulties being understood by unfamiliar listeners or in noisy environments. A common strategy for effectively communicating in these scenarios is to use simpler and more predictable language. Despite the prevalence of this strategy, there has been little to no research to date focused on the effectiveness of language simplification as a communication strategy. This study seeks to begin filling that gap by using natural language processing to determine whether speakers with early-stage Parkinson’s disease and age-matched neurotypical speakers are able to successfully simplify their language while still maintaining the original message.

Simplification was measured …

Making Space For Student Agency: A Multilayered Exploration Of Agency And Writing In A First‐Grade Classroom, Kara Decoursey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Early literacy learning is crucial for later success in reading and writing. We have a limited understanding of generative writing (i.e., expressing ideas in writing) in first grade and further research is warranted. The socially situated nature of writing justifies a study of student agency during writing.

In this study, data were collected before, during, and after 10 writing sessions in a first-grade classroom. Students took a pre- and post-survey that revealed their self-perceptions of their agency and confidence as literacy learners. The participating teacher was interviewed three times and the teacher’s talk was recorded during all 45- to 60- …

Fremont Legacy In Capitol Reef And The Waterpocket Fold: A Radiocarbon Analysis Of The Pectol Collection Coiled Basketry Using Bayesian Modeling, Chelsea Cheney

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Perishable artifacts provide ample opportunity to better understand past human lives. Artifacts constructed from shorter-lived plant materials can make a significant contribution to archaeological research through radiocarbon dating. Analyzing and radiocarbon dating the basketry construction types from the Pectol Collection aids in the development of a more precise prehistoric timeline for the Capitol Reef and Waterpocket Fold (CRWF) area of southeastern Utah. Basketry technology construction is treated as a signal for growing Fremont occupancy throughout the Colorado Plateau and eastern Great Basin, and can the provide prior information used to better organize Bayesianbased age models. From AD 750–1050, a narrow …

Comparative Study Of Clustering Techniques On Eye-Tracking In Dynamic 3d Virtual Environments, Scott Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eye-tracking has been used for decades to understand how and why an individual focuses on particular objects, areas, and elements of space. A vast body of knowledge exists on how eye-tracking is measured. However, historically, eye-tracking has been predominately studied using 2D environments, with limited work in 3D environments. The purpose of this study is to identify which methods most accurately represent the areas that have captured the participant’s visual attention within a 3D dynamic environment. This will be completed by evaluating different clustering methods of fixations using a customized virtual reality tool that collects eye-tracking data. There exist several …

Exploring The Transformative Impact Of Language Teachers' Autoethnographies In A Teacher Education Course, Ekaterina Arshavskaya, Nefi Reyes De La Paz

World Languages and Cultures Faculty Publications

Benefits of teachers' autoethnographies are well-documented in current research. This study adds to the research literature by directly analyzing how the insights gained through writing autoethnographic essays may impact second language (L2) teachers' classrooms. To collect the data, the study incorporated autoethnographic essays into a graduate course for language teachers and asked the participating teachers to design lessons that reflected the insights they gained about themselves through this project. Adopting the transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 1978, 1997) that scaffolds teachers' self-reflection, this paper explores the transformative potential of teachers' autoethnographies through tracking qualitative changes in the teachers' narratives and practice …

Toward An Equity-Driven Conceptual Model Of Covid-19 Vaccine Decision-Making For People With Idd, Lydia Ocasio-Stoutenburg, Reese Triana, Shelly Baer, Jairo Arana, Ana C. Sale, Douglene Jackson, Michelle Schladant, Nastasia Boulos, Grace Dima, Jeffrey Brosco

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

COVID-19 presented a public health emergency in the U.S., resulting in severe illness, hospitalizations, high mortality rates, and long-term adverse health care conditions. Several studies examined the disparities in transmission rates, barriers to care, and negative health outcomes for persons with disabilities, particularly people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). While data revealed similar trends among Black, Hispanic or Latino/a/x/e, Native, Indigenous, and Asian people, outcomes are compounded for people of color with I/DD. Several historical, pervasive, systemic, structural, and attitudinal barriers have constrained healthcare access and adequate treatment, instigating feelings of distrust among those in systems of care. Although …

“I Have Learned That Things Are Different Here”: Understanding The Transitional Challenges With Technology Use After Relocating To The Usa, Prakriti Dumaru, Ankit Shrestha, Rizu Paudel, Arezou Behfar, Hanieh Atashpanjeh, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

In the age of globalization, international students from developing countries (for brevity, we term them as ‘international students’ in this paper, unless otherwise specified) have become an integral part of the U.S. education system. After relocation to the USA, first-generation international students undergo not only societal differences but also experience changes in the technology space – posing unique challenges for them. Our semi-structured interviews with 26 participants who were pursuing education at the time of our study, or had recently graduated informed us of their adaptation to the technology landscape in the USA; our analysis revealed the underlying challenges in …

Community Perceptions Of Procedural And Distributive Justice In Engineered Systems: A Case Study Of Community-Engaged Vehicular Electrification, Polly Parkinson, Fawn Groves, Emma Mecham, Amy Wilson-Lopez, Ivonne Santiago, Jennifer Ramos-Chavez

Teacher Education and Leadership Student Research

This study was conducted in the context of a near-port community in which vehicular electrification efforts were occurring. Electric vehicles (EVs) and their associated infrastructures—including charging stations and wirelessly charging roads—may redress environmental injustices near inland ports because they significantly reduce vehicular emissions that harm human health. However, if the sociotechnical infrastructures associated with EVs are not intentionally planned to bring benefits to historically minoritized communities, they run the risk of reproducing interrelated transportation, economic, and environmental injustices. Thus, this study sought to answer the following overarching research question: What factors contribute to, or hinder, procedural and distributive justice relative …

Understanding Computational Thinking In The Gameplay Of The African Songo Board Game, Rebecca Y. Bayeck

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Computational thinking is a necessary skill for the 21st century. While previously examined in computer-rich settings, researchers are increasingly studying computational thinking in unplugged environments such as board games. Focusing on the African board game Songo, this study shows that computational thinking practices are embedded in Songo board gameplay and interact with the cultural context. The study also reveals a computing practice peculiar to Songo gameplay, songoputation. This paper suggests that researchers can benefit from exploring computational thinking and computing practices beyond board games in western contexts.

When Is An Owl More Than An Owl? An Interaction Analysis Of A Computer Science Co-Design Conversation On Cultural Relevance, Stephanie M. Robillard, Victor R. Lee, Jody Clarke-Midura, Jessica F. Shumway

Publications

The learning sciences community is currently exploring new ways to enact productive and equitable co-design research-practice partnerships that are sensitive to all the concerns and needs of stakeholders. The paper contributes to that still-growing literature through an interaction analysis of a co-design discussion involving school district partners that unfolded about cultural relevance and sensitivity in relation to the use of a specific image in an elementary school coding lesson. The episode involved looking moment-by-moment at how district educators recognized and acknowledged that a specific design decision could be harmful for a minoritized population of students enrolled in the district. However, …

The Signed Linguistic Input Of Hearing Mothers To Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Aleah S. Brock

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study investigated the distribution of ten facilitative language techniques (FLTs) in the linguistic input of hearing, signing mothers to their children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Four hearing mothers and their DHH children under the age of three participated in six, ten-minute caregiver-child interaction sessions via Zoom. The recorded sessions were coded for mother FLTs and child utterances. Results indicated that the mothers tended to use more initiative than responsive types of FLTs, consistent with findings of previous studies that examined the input of mothers who were using spoken-only language with their children who are DHH. …

Parent And Provider Perspectives On Early Intervention In Ohio: A Community Collaborative Approach, Jessa Reed, Ursula M. Findlen, Carrie Davenport, Cheryl Deconde Johnson, Maria Sentelik, Carrie Spangler, Wendy Steuerwald, Derek Houston

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The network of early intervention (EI) for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) consists of multiple professionals that partner with parents. As part of a community collaborative initiative, diverse perspectives were gathered via online surveys as part of a state-wide needs assessment to evaluate the landscape of EI in Ohio. The qualitative and quantitative feedback were analyzed in light of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing’s (2007) goals and the 2013 early intervention supplement to those goals. Care coordination and equitable access emerged as top priorities across all three stakeholder groups queried (audiologists, EI providers, …

Adverse Childhood Experiences In Mothers And Their Children With Hearing Loss, Elizabeth A. Rosenzweig

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study examined the relationship between maternal and child ACEs in children with hearing loss ages 3-12. One hundred twenty-four mother-child dyads completed assessments of mother and child ACEs. Adverse cChildhood eExperiences (ACEs) were measured using the Center for Youth Wellness Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CYW ACE-Q; Burke Harris & Renschler, 2015).

Both maternal and child participants in this study reported higher levels of ACE exposure than previously reported in studies of the general population. Maternal and child ACEs were significantly correlated. White/Caucasian mothers experienced significantly fewer ACEs than mothers of other races/ethnicities. Children living in adoptive, foster, or guardianship …

Implementing A Hearing Screening Readiness Assessment Tool For Preterm And Term Neonates In The Newborn Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Project, Mckenzie Blatt, Adrienne Johnson, Jennifer L. Hamilton, Carly Alston, Belinda Chan

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Newborn intensive care unit (NICU) patients are at risk for hearing loss. Early detection mitigates consequences of speech and language delay. The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) recommends hearing screening (HS) on all infants by 1 month of age. Often hearing screening is performed around the time of NICU discharge, often beyond JCIH recommendations. Automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) screening can be performed once an infant reaches 32 to 34 weeks corrected gestational age (GA). Our project aimed to reduce HS delay among NICU infants. We created and implemented a HS assessment tool defining gestational age and medical stability …

Journal Of Early Hearing Detection And Intervention: Volume 8 Issue 1, Pages 1-68

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Cultural-Emotional Learning And Mental Health Challenges Among American Indian/Alaska Native Students, Mark Se Baez Phd, Carla Allison Baez Phd

Journal of Indigenous Research

Abstract

When working with American Indian/Alaska Native students, contextual and cultural matters. Social and emotional approaches must be modified to address cultural differences for a successful outcome. A practical approach that is culturally responsive among American Indian/Alaska Native students towards their academics, behaviors, and emotional learning, is imperative for those facilitating the learning among these students to understand the cultural dynamics and experiences (Cultural-Emotional Learning) as they enter their school buildings. Cultural-Emotional Learning for American Indian/Alaska Native students is a methodology for faculty/educators working with American Indian/Alaskan Native students to assist them in the initial cultural dialog in developing cultural …

Applying The Extended Parallel Process Model To Climate Change Communication, Mikenna Renee Debruin

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Whereas over 99% of the scientific community believes in the concept of anthropogenic climate change, lay support is still lagging behind. I suggest three key factors to lagging lay support: 1) complexity, 2) manufactured scientific controversy, and 3) doom-and-gloom framing. Because of these factors, individuals are less willing believe in the prevalence of human-induced climate change, nonetheless do something about it. The Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), however, presents a model to assuage eco-anxiety and counter psychological distance from the problem. The EPPM, proposed by Kim Witte in the 1990s, combines appeals to threat and appeals to efficacy to contextualize …

Oppression In Xinjiang: Rhetorical Parallels To The Causal Mechanisms, Christina Elizabeth Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper compares the framings of ethnic conflict with theoretical political science explanations of the causes of such conflict. Framings are statements used to portray the who, what, and why of an issue through the emphasis or exclusion of information to create a specific agenda. The theoretical expectation from social science is that ethnic conflict is a result of a commitment problem, where the two parties in the conflict cannot credibly guarantee the protection of the other. This arises from situations where there is a large minority group population that is underrepresented from government and has grievances from economic disparities …

Digital Collaborative Language Learning And Augmented Reality, Matthew Taylor

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is a collection of works written by the author as he was studying in the Masters of Second Language Teaching program at Utah State University. The focus of these works is on technology and its impact on language learning. The first few sections consist of an introduction to the portfolio, a few pages dedicated to the author’s philosophy on second language teaching, and details and insights from an observation of a teacher in practice while in the program. The following section comprises the bulk of the portfolio and includes a paper devoted to augmented reality’s place in digital …

Creating A Classroom Of Access: Learner Identity And Intercultural Communicative Competence, Kallen Brunson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio represents the coursework, readings, writings, classroom observations, teaching experiences, and reflections during my time in the Utah State University Masters in Second Language Teaching program. It is composed of three main components: my teaching philosophy, reflections on a selection of classroom observations of other instructors, and a position paper on World Englishes and pragmatics. Additionally, this portfolio gives background on the professional environment of the author and looks forward to the future.

The main paper consists of a position paper regarding World Englishes and cultivating identity and intercultural communicative competence, supplemented by a paper on incorporating pragmatics into …

Integrating Content, Culture, And Language For Portuguese Dual Language Immersion Learners, Aline Reis

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is the result of the approaches to teaching I have learned through coursework, readings, class observations, and reflections during the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program. It contains my teaching philosophy, developed from my experiences in the elementary Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program and the Utah State University (USU) MSLT program, as well as examples of work produced in the MSLT program, both theoretical and practical. First, the professional environment piece provides context and background for reflections on my teaching experience and pedagogy. Second, the teaching philosophy statement (TPS) describes the main theoretical frameworks and approaches that …

Building Intercultural Competence In The Lower Division Chinese Language Classroom: A Lesson Plan Analysis, Tzu-Hsin Lin

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is a compilation of what the author has learned in the field of Chinese as a second language in the Master of Second Language Teaching program at Utah State University. There are three main sections in the portfolio. The first section contains the author’s teaching philosophy statement, with a focus on intercultural competence development and teacher-student rapport. The second section consists of a reflection on a classroom observation. The main paper presents how the author designed a lesson plan and implemented it, as well as her analysis and introspection on a video recording of the lesson. The portfolio …

Exploring Multiliteracies And Other Approaches To Second Language Teaching, Saralee Dunster

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This teaching portfolio offers a selection from the author’s graduate coursework, teaching experience, and research undertaken while enrolled in the Utah State University Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program. The documents included are a reflection of her pedagogical approach and teaching practice, developed through varying contexts of professional experiences, including teaching English and French as a second language. This portfolio includes: reflections on the author’s teaching environment, a teaching philosophy statement, a professional development peer observation, a reflection paper that demonstrates the author’s experiences teaching with stories within the context of the multiliteracies framework, specifically multimodal fairy tales with …