Digital Commons Network^™

Two High School Teachers’ Initial Use Of Geometers Sketchpad: Issues Of Implementation, Kathryn G. Shafer

Dissertations

This study documents two teachers' instructional practices as they learn and incorporate Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP) activities into their curriculum. The researcher (as a mentor) worked closely with two high school geometry teachers following a case study methodology. As a secondary goal, this study examined the use of a mentor as a professional development model to assist classroom teachers in the learning and implementation of Geometer'sSketchpad. Data were gathered through interviews, surveys, observations, classroom videotape, participant journal entries, as well as researcher field notes.

Results are reported in the areas of goals of instruction, method of instruction, role of the teacher, …

Divine Minds: The Cognitive Foundations Of God And Religion, Todd Tremlin

Dissertations

Understanding how human brains work bears directly on the study of religion. Introducing the new "cognitive science of religion," this dissertation explains how natural mental processes that shape everyday human thought are also responsible for the arising and persistence of religious ideas and for the content and development of religions. The central claim of this work is that understanding the origin and features of god concepts and the religious systems that form around them requires an understanding of the adapted mind. This argument unfolds in two parts. The first explores the cognitive foundations ofsupernatural beings. It discusses in both evolutionary …

Slope Stability Analysis Of A Lake Michigan Coastal Bluff, Gregory Carlton Young

Masters Theses

Bluff failure along the Lake Michigan coast can be produced primarily by increased pore pressure from perched water tables above lacustrine clay deposits. To test this theory, a site in Allegan County, Michigan with alternating layers of sand, clay and glacial till was chosen for bluff failure monitoring. Historically, the site experiences sporadic massive failures as opposed to neighboring sites that show more regular and uniform displacements. Four pole and cable monitoring lines were measured bi-weekly from December 2001 to October 2003. Lake levels were low and no erosion of material at the base of the slope occurred. Slumps above …

Carbon Nanotube Based Chemical And Biological Sensors, Srikanth Singamaneni

Masters Theses

Carbon nanotubes are among those wonderful molecules man has discovered by chance. Carbon nanotubes are sheets of graphite rolled up to form seamless cylinders. Their outstanding electrical, mechanical and thermal properties form the inspiration behind this work. This work investigates the possible application of carbon nanotubes as biological sensors for the detection of various biomolecules like Streptavidin and Mouse monoclonal Immunoglobulin-G. Electrical conductance changes of Carbon nanotubes for exposure to alcohol vapors were studied. This thesis demonstrates that these quantum wires can form highly sensitive biological and chemical sensors at molecular level. Although the main focus of the-research was chemical …

Prediction Of Crack Growth Rate And Load Interaction Effects Using Damage Accumulation Model, Virender Goswami

Masters Theses

In damage tolerant designs, it is important to know the crack growth behavior of a material, so that sudden failure of a component can be avoided by determining a safe life. There are numerous models available to predict the crack growth rate. Among them the "crack closure model" is most often used for predicting the crack growth rate for different R-ratios and load interaction effects. However recently, the crack closure model has come under criticism by many authors to be flawed and overrated owing to its inherent drawbacks.

Therefore, a mathematical model for the fatigue crack propagation based on damage …

Hybrid Or Counterpoise? A Study Of Transitional Trebuchets, Michael J. Basista

Masters Theses

This study investigates the engineering and use of a proposed type of trebuchet in the Middle Ages. A study by a prominent historian has suggested the existence of a type of siege weapon that made use of both human and gravitational forces to fire its projectile. My research will investigate this claim by examining select sources, reviewing the engineering principles involved, and determining the viability of such a machine.

After dealing with this theory I will offer my own new interpretation made from the sources. This interpretation will center on the application of ancient technology to make trebuchets more efficient. …

Telerobotic Controller, Michael Fewless, George Slater, Steve Waldron

Honors Theses

Atelerobotic system allows a user to interact with an environment indirectly. Our project successfully creates a telerobotic environment between the Phantom 1.5 controller and the UMI RTX robotic arm. Utilizing the haptic features of the Phantom controller, a more realistic interaction was created between the telerobotic system and the user by providing sensory feedback. As the user manipulates the hand-controlled Phantom device, signals are sent via a parallel port to the personal computer. A real-time WIN32 application, utilizing the GHOST SDK library, reads the position of the Phantom controller's coordinates and calculates the corresponding motor positions of the UMI RTXrobotic …

Introduction To Mechanical Engineering, Lorik Abdullai, Joseph R. Dunn

Honors Theses

I can still remember back in high school when I was faced with a decision thousands of students experience every year: What college was I going to choose, and what major was I going to study? It seemed like every time I saw friends and relatives they asked me that question. Meanwhile, I knew that going to a major university would give me more choices in case I changed majors. As it turned out, Western Michigan University was the best package for me when I considered the financial aid, the program ofmy major, location of the university, and its friendly …

Western News, Nov. 11, 2004 , Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: MLK celebration set for January; Litynski named to NSF position; 9/11 commission member Slade Gordon visits WMU; Muslim students present "Women in Islam"; On Campus with Hardy Figueroa.

Geosciences Newsletter - 2004, Department Of Geosciences

Geological and Environmental Sciences News

Vol. 1, No. 29

• Mohamed Sultan, Chairperson
• Faculty News
• Emeriti News
• Department News
• Graduate Student News
• Awards & Graduations
• Alumni News
• Field Trips
• Outstanding Alumni Academy
• Special Honor
• New Faces in the Geosciences

35th Conference On Senior Engineering Design Projects, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

Senior Engineering Design Conference

The 35th Conference on Senior Engineering Design Projects was held on November 30, 2004 at the College of Engineering and applied Sciences on the Parkview Campus of Western Michigan University. The college sponsors the conference to showcase the work of its graduating seniors, who are required to complete a capstone project that puts into practice what they have learned. Many of the projects are sponsored by business and industry.

Reading Horizons Vol. 45 No. 1

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Complete issue of Reading Horizons volume 45, issue 1.

The Western Michigan University Magazine, Fall 2004, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Magazine (1997-present)

• Dybek book is toast of Chicago
• Intel ranks WMU eighth in the nation for wireless computing on a college campusstudy
• No detours—MDOT, WMU pool resources for research, teaching
• Teacher preparation program earns national association’s top honor
• Keeping Score
• Robotic arm helps children develop handwriting skills
• WMU/Kimberly-Clark research to result in new consumer products
• WMU-led statewide water trail system makes a splash
• Multicultural Center opens on main campus
• Classnotes
• College News
• WMU News

The Greatest Literacy Challenges Facing Contemporary High School Teachers: Implications For Secondary Teacher Preparation, Mary B. Campbell, Margaret M. Kmiecik

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Secondary teachers face significant challenges in their efforts to increase the literacy levels of adolescents. Encouraging teachers to speak out about these challenges and to recommend initiatives that may improve literacy practices for adolescents is vital for future reform efforts. This study examines the questions: "What are the greatest literacy challenges facing high school content area teachers?" and "What will help to diminish these challenges?" The data collection questionnaire was distributed to teachers in eight high schools throughout the greater Chicago area. A discussion of the findings suggests compelling directions for secondary teachers and teacher educators.

Reading And Writing Poetry In Math, Jan Labonty, Kathy Danielson

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

Though poetry and math may seem to be unrelated, there are parallels such as rhythmic language and language skills. Reading and writing poetry about math involves students with listening, speaking, reading, and writing in order to develop and demonstrate an understanding of mathematical concepts and relationships. This article features an annotated list of mathematical poetry books and a variety of writing ideas for math poetry. Encouraging students to read and write poetry about math will encourage them to find a deeper meaning of math concepts as they develop their poetic voices.

Western News, Sept. 30, 2004 , Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: WMU moving forward with chemistry building; Four new faculty members introduced; Andrea Smith awarded Fulbright; Promotions of 23 faculty approved; On Campus with Charles Heynig.

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session September 17, 2004, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Minutes of the WMU Board of Trustees meeting include appendices:

• Acceptance of the Agenda
• Closed Informal Session
• Remarks by the Vice Chair
• Remarks by the President
• Remarks by the WSA/GSAC Chairs
• Approval of the Minutes of the June 30, 2004 Formal Session
• University Budget
• College of Health and Human Services Profile
• Residence Hall Update
• Multicultural Center Report

Western News, Sept. 16, 2004 , Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Three selected for top alumni honors; Expanded staff recognition program debuts; Doubleday and Washington honored with Medal of Arts; On Campus with Kevin Vichcales.

Western News, Sept. 2, 2004 , Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: GoWMU is first step in SIS implementation; Rozelle and Asken honored, Donan awarded fellowship; O'Flaherty leaving WMU for U.S. Dept. of Education; On Campus with Eri Vlier.

Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy: The Cold War Origins Of Rational Choice Liberalism. S. M. Amadae., James Midgley

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Book note for S. M. Amadae, Rationalizing Capitalist Democracy: The Cold War Origins of Rational Choice Liberalism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. $19.00 papercover.

Teachers’ Career Decisions In A Cognitive Framework: Logistical Regression Analysis Of A National Data Set, Tamara H. Rosier

Dissertations

Research was conducted in order to determine if extrinsic, cognitive or situative sets of variables could predict teachers' career decisions using the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). Questions from the survey were divided into three cognitive perspectives: extrinsic, cognitive, and situative. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were used to predict group membership among those who chose to stay in their current position and those who left the profession.

Results for the extrinsic set of variables indicated that while the model was a good fit, the ability of the model to predict was low. Teachers agreeing that student behavior interferes with ability …

A Comparative Study Of Interrater Reliability Coefficients Obtained From Different Statistical Procedures Using Monte Carlo Simulation Techniques, Ebrima Nying

Dissertations

Reliability estimation is a key research component within the global area of educational assessment. The literature reports numerous studies using different statistical techniques for estimating reliability of educational measures. However, few have focused on the estimation of interrater reliability of performance assessment (Abedi, Baker, & Herl, 1995). Specifically, this study compared three different methods for estimating interrater reliability to determine if there are differences among these estimates as a function of: sample size, measurement scale, number of raters and the theoretical population reliability (rho). The three methods of estimation were the Intraclass Correlation (ICC(2, k )) (Shrout & Fleiss, 1979), …

Mothers Of Us All: When Does Political Message Take Precedence Over Art In Some Modern And Contemporary Women’S Poetry, Shanda Hansma Blue Easterday

Dissertations

This dissertation contains an essay with the above title, as well as two sections of poems. The first section of poems is entitled Maria Sibylla Merian, Artist and Naturalist , and is a collection of poems about, and in the voice of, Merian. Many of these are what are known as personna poems. The second section of poems is entitled The Beekeeper's Wife , and uses autobiography as a framework for communicating the humor in human relationships, and for illustrating the surrealism in the human race's relationships with the natural world.

My research for my essay entailed the study of …

Essays On The Econometrics Of Financial Volatility, Yasemin Bardakci

Dissertations

My dissertation consists of three essays on the econometric analysis of financial volatility.

My first essay is titled "The Runs Test for Volatility Forecastibility: Extensions and Comparisons with Tests for GARCH." Recently, Diebold and Christoffersen (2000) introduced a test for forecastable volatility. In this paper, I compare the size and the power of the runs test and the optimal LM test for GARCH by Monte Carlo simulation. For high frequency returns the LM test has superior power to the runs test. For low frequency returns however, the tests have very similar power. I also propose a switching variance model. For …

Dear Beyond, Kirsten Hemmy

Dissertations

My project. Dear Beyond, a collection of poetry, examines the connection between landscape—both internal and external, or private and public—and environment. My poetry reflects my own unique background and my struggles with emplacement, or the placing of oneself in any particular landscape. It aims to challenge dominant paradigms of voice, expression, and even inquiry; it questions traditional, systematic forms of inquiry such as the Cartesian idea of an essential separation between object and subject. Culture and landscape, I have discovered, manifest themselves everywhere, in variegated forms: in spaciousness or intimacy, in internal and external contexts, in tactile experiences, in focused …

Role Of Naming In Stimulus Categorization By Preschool Children, Caio Flavio Miguel

Dissertations

The purpose of the current study was to assess whether children would categorize pictures when taught the relevant listener and speaker behaviors separately. A category-sort test was used to assess emergent conditional relations. Category-sort trials consisted of looking at (Test 1) or tacting/labeling (Test 2) a samplestimulus and selecting the appropriate comparison stimuli. In Experiment 1, 4 children (3- 5 years) were taught to tact pictures of six U.S. state maps as either north or south. An assessment was conducted to determine whether they would (1) correctly categorize or sort when presented with a visual sample and (2) select the …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session June 30, 2004, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

Closed Informal Session

Remarks by the Chair

Remarks by the President Bailey

Approval of the Minutes of the April 16 Formal Session

Personnel Report

Grant Report

Program Change Proposals

Name Change - Department of Communication to School of Communication

Majors

Concentrations within the Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership

Degree Programs

Gift Report

Public Safety Resolutions/Third Public Hearing

Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital Ground Lease

Statement of Fair Contracting Commitment

Cash Investment Performance Report

Annuity and Life Income Funds Investment Performance Report

Facility Presentation

Public Comments

Western News, June 3, 2004, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Provost Litynski to return to faculty; Donald Thompson visits campus; obituaries for Roy Beck, Russell Brown, Richard Embertson; On Campus with Daren Webb.

Affine Equivariant Multivariate Rank-Based And Generalized Rank Regression, Majeda Salman

Dissertations

Affine equivariant estimates for the regression coefficient matrix of the multivariate linear model are proposed. These estimates are based on a transformation and retransformation technique that uses Tyler's (1987) M -estimator of scatter. The proposed estimates are obtained by retransforming the componentwiserank-based estimate due to Davis and McKean (1993) and a componentwise generalized rank estimate. Asymptotic properties of the estimates are established under some regularity conditions. It is shown that both estimates have a multivariate normal limiting distribution. The influence function of the retransformed generalized rank estimate has a bounded influence in both factor and response spaces. It is shown …

Counselors’ Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Career Education Programs In Assisting High School Students When Making Career Decisions, Sandra L. Roberts Standish

Dissertations

In 1997, the Michigan Department of Career Development unveiled the Michigan Career Preparation System, which provided guidelines and funds for school districts to offer career education opportunities for students. Since high school counselors are oftentimes viewed as the primary provider of careerinformation to students, this study examined their perceptions of Michigan's Career Preparation System and the impact this initiative has had on studentsand educators. To gather this information, a 13-question survey was designed and distributed to a randomly selected group of high school counselors. Theresearch also provided a framework for understanding all of the components of both the Michigan Comprehensive …