Digital Commons Network^™

Summer Bash 2017 Fundraiser Event, Tyler Connors

Honors Theses

Summer Bash 2017 was a multi-component fundraiser event that took place on June 16th, 2017, designed to help DC Strong, a local non-profit organization that brings personalized gifts and exciting experiences to children battling cancer in order to keep their spirits up and minds focused on finishing the fight. The first note on DC Strong’s website is that “In our minds and in our hearts, we know that the children have to give everything they've got to get through the battle of pediatric cancer” and DC Strong’s mission is to remind them why they keep fighting and why it's worth …

Empowering Nursing Students For Success, Mary Ann Stark

Instructional Development Grants

With a grant from the Western Michigan University Office of Faculty Development, we were able to offer students a small stipend to work with faculty who helped them identify academic and personal issues that impede success. Upper level students were hired as Navigators to help the student scholars achieve success. All scholars in the program passed and progressed in the nursing program. This program was called the Marie Gates Scholars Program in honor of our previous BSON director who valued and supported diversity in nursing.

Rehmer Encaustic Mixed Media Workshop, Christina Chin

Instructional Development Grants

Encaustic Mixed Media Workshop taught by artist Sarah Rehmer.

Short term Objectives:

• To develop my versatility and expertise with encaustic materials, tools, and processes
• To determine potential ways to customize encaustic media and processes for accessibility to the K-12 arena

Student Perceptions Of Micro-Credentialing Through Digital Badges, Melissa Holman

Academic Leadership Academy

This project looks at students perceptions of digital badges as a form of micro-credentialing for students in teacher education programs at Western Michigan University. As a means to connect the concepts to already-existing rigorous requirements for teacher education, the project uses the standards from the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) Modeling Teaching Standards to create badges that students would earn along the way in pursuit of their degrees.

Fall Convocation 2017 Program, Office Of Faculty Development

Fall Convocation

A program for the Fall 2017 convocation, giving information on programs to improve student learning, including Teaching and Learning Bash, Assessment as Ally, Teaching with Technology Symposium, 2017 Faculty and Staff Awards, State of the University Address.

Western News, October 5, 2017, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Magura awarded $2.1 million federal grant, Become part of the homecoming 2017 royal family, Scholar-related award recipients to be feted at convocation, Trustees approve retirements of 25 faculty, staff; resignations of nine faculty, WMU sees increase in important enrollment categories this fall, On Campus with Cheri Butler

Overview Of Instructional Technology Used In The Education Of Occupational Therapy Students: A Survey Study, Bryan M. Gee, Lisa Salazar, Jessica Porter, Camiel Clark, Theodore W. Peterson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The purpose of this study was to explore the type of instructional technology (IT) master’s degree level occupational therapy educational programs routinely use as a part of their lecture- and laboratory-based instruction. Surveying the administrators of 121 graduate occupational therapy programs in the United States, we found that the majority of the respondents identified their program as using IT in some form for lecture-based courses, with less inclusion of IT for laboratory-based courses. Hybrid instruction, with the majority of the content being delivered face-to-face and the remainder via online, were the trends among the respondents. The findings also indicated that …

Perceptions Of Occupational Therapy Students And Faculty Of Compressed Courses: A Pilot Study, Martina G. Allen, Mary Voytek

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

As occupational therapists, our mandate is to be client centered, yet in academic settings there is little information regarding student or faculty preferences about curriculum and course design. This study investigated the perceptions of occupational therapy students and faculty regarding the delivery of content in a compressed course format, thus reducing the number of courses taken at any given time. The authors discuss how the results inform the feasibility of incorporating this format into future curriculum design. A descriptive survey design was used for this study. The participants were 33 entry-level graduate students and two faculty who completed post-course surveys …

Passing The Nbcot Examination: Preadmission, Academic, And Fieldwork Factors, Sharon D. Novalis, Jill M. Cyranowski, Cathy D. Dolhi

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

All occupational therapy students are required to successfully complete the certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) before they can practice independently. The need to repeat the examination can result in stress, anxiety, and financial hardship. This paper explores the relationship of preadmission factors, academic and fieldwork performance, and demographic variables to successful first-time attempts on the certification examination for occupational therapists. Data were gathered from 144 student files in a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program at a single university. Of the sample, 82% passed and 18% failed their first NBCOT test trial. …

Art In Occupational Therapy Education: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study Of An Arts-Based Module, Susan Coppola, Adrienne F. Miao, Carolyn Allmendinger, Wanqing Zhang

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Art-based learning experiences have demonstrated a range of benefits, including improved observation skills and perspective taking. This article describes the effects of an art-based module in an entry-level curriculum for occupational therapy (OT) students. An exploratory pilot study investigated the feasibility of a group-administered visual art-based module for 20 first-year OT graduate students. Outcomes were evaluated using a mixed-methods approach that combined pre-post quantitative results from survey questionnaires and qualitative reflective essays. Pre- and post-surveys revealed significant changes in the students’ perception regarding the benefits of art in OT curricula. The students’ reflective essays on their learning described art-based sessions …

Master’S Of Occupational Therapy Student Perceptions Of Creative Thinking Across The Academic Program, Angela K. Boisselle, Mary F. Baxter

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

This study was part of a larger study to describe how master’s of occupational therapy (MOT) students define and perceive their own creative thinking across the academic program. This study involved a cross-sectional quantitative study based on the self-reflective creative thinking surveys completed by the MOT students at Texas Woman’s University (N = 136). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce a large number of variables by finding which variables are redundant and measuring the same construct. The PCA resulted in three new components accounting for 68% of the variance. Three ANOVAs were conducted to explore possible differences in …

An Examination Of The Association Of Social Media Use With The Satisfaction With Daily Routines And Healthy Lifestyle Habits For Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Melanie Austin-Mccain

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Social media use has become an integral daily occupation of college and graduate students. In the United States, 90% of adults aged 18 to 29 years use social media (Pew Internet, 2015). Positive and negative data has been found which examined associations between social media use and other daily occupations (activities) that impact emotional and physical health. The purpose of this study is to examine the association of social media use with the satisfaction of daily routines and healthy lifestyle habits for undergraduate and graduate students.

Method: Undergraduate and graduate students responded to survey questions regarding their …

Joint Attention And Occupations For Children And Families Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review, Verna G. Eschenfelder, Christina M. Gavalas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Research reports that children living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may demonstrate deficits in social, emotional, behavioral, and communication skills, which adversely affect social participation and occupational engagement. Joint attention skills constitute any nonverbal communication that captures the attention of another to create a shared interactional experience. The components of joint attention can be targeted through intervention to promote occupational engagement in childhood co-occupations.

Methods: A scoping review process was applied in the current study. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria to be analyzed through critical appraisal of topics and use of a matrix.

Results: Evidence indicates that joint …

Development Of The Daily Living Questionnaire (Dlq): A Factor Analysis Study, Sara Rosenblum, Naomi Josman, Joan Toglia

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Performance of daily activities and participation in life events involves higher-level cognitive abilities. The purpose of this study was to develop a self-report scale for detecting everyday difficulties in activities/participation tied with higher-level cognitive deficiency and to examine its reliability and validity.

Method: The Daily Living Questionnaire’s (DLQ) content and face validity were established. Internal consistency following an exploratory factor analysis, as well as construct validity, were initiated with a convenience sample of 194 healthy adults, aged 18 to 85 years, and 34 adults diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Results: The four factors received in Part A, activities and …

Emeriti News, Fall 2017, Emeriti Council

Emeriti News

Contents from Volume XXVII Number 1:

Emeriti Council

Message from the Chair: Peter Krawutschke

Book Scholarships

Medallion Scholarships

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

In Rememberance

Upcoming Events

The Socializer-Fall 2017, Department Of Sociology

The Socializer

Fall 2017 Sociology departmental newsletter.

Connections, 10/2017, College Of Health And Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Newsletter

• Outstanding alumni recognized at CHHS
• OT, social work faculty earn $1.8 million grant
• 14th Annual Rider Colloquium
• Department of Physician Assistant accredited through 2027
• 2017 CHHS Student Expo
• State approves two CTAC contracts for continued training
• PA students gather donations at MAPA conference

Western Michigan University Magazine, Fall 2017, Western Michigan University

Western Michigan University Magazine (1997-present)

• Our Next Era of Ascension Together with the Bronco community, President Edward Montgomery says, he is excited to lead WMU to greater heights: “We can take this University and make it even stronger in terms of what it does for students, make it even stronger in terms of its research, make it even stronger in its impact on the community.”
• Engaged Families, Supported Students Program marks 10 years as ‘go to’ for Bronco families
• New Bot on Campus Lab’s socially intelligent robot knows when to crack a joke
• A Spectrum of Support Collegiate autism services: Meeting students’ needs
• Busy with …

Social Media In Big Business: An Autoethnography, Anna Rudisill

Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to understand the perceptions and experiences of those who professionally work with social media. While there is a plethora of research done on the impact and importance of social media in big businesses, there is a lack of information regarding those who create the content. This thesis is framed as an autoethnography, as I describe my personal experiences working with social media in a large corporation. To further my research, I also interviewed two colleagues about their experience. Through my research I found that social media employees go through a specific process when being …

Dr. Edward Montgomery, 9th Presidential Inauguration, Western Michigan University

WMU Presidential Inaugurations

The Inauguration of Dr. Edward Montgomery 9th President of Western Michigan University. September 15, 2017 11:00 am at Miller Auditorium Kalamazoo, Michigan. A program of the event.

9/11 Memorial Event, Edward Montgomery

WMU President Edward Montgomery

9/11 Memorial Event at Bronson Park, Remarks by WMU President Ed Montgomery.

Western News, September 7, 2017, Western Michigan University

Western News (1972-2018)

Story highlights: Presidential inauguration set for Sept. 15, Make a Difference staffers to be feted at convocation, Meeting set to gain input on updating valley housing, Seita program named finalist for award, Magazine yet again lauds WMU with top-100 ranking, Interim provost is among high-level appointments, Montgomery hits the ground running as WMU’s ninth president, On Campus with Catherine VanDerMaas

Connections, 09/2017, College Of Health And Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Newsletter

• 2017 Outstanding Alumni Academy Inductees
• PA students reckon with Hurricane Irma
• Faculty and staff changes at CHHS
• Researchers team up for concussion app development
• Registration open for 14th annual Barbara Rider Colloquium

Cio Updates - 09/2017, Office Of Information Technology

Tech Talk

• New Technology Help Desk Chat service
• Computer Lab H Drive is being decommissioned
• Broncos4Broncos
• Scholarship phishing
• Video phones
• Elearning copyright materials
• Director of Communication and Collaboration

15-06 Integrated Crowdsourcing Platform To Investigate Non-Motorized Behavior And Risk Factors On Walking, Running, And Cycling Routes, Ala Al-Fuqaha, Sepideh Mohammadi, Jun-Seok Oh, Valerian Kwigizile, Fadi Alhomaidat

Transportation Research Center Reports

There are several factors on the roads that impact bicyclists’ safety. This research aims to find the most important risk factors on roads, mainly in infrastructure facilities, to improve the safety for walkers, runners, and bicyclists. Most mobile cycling applications currently used by cyclists and runners were reviewed in this study in order to gain insight about the features that users care about. Features, such as speed, cumulative elevation gain, and connectivity to Google Fit, were found to be the most common features in the widely-used cycling apps. In this research, we developed and launched a mobile application for crowd-sourcing …

Addressing Common Mental Health Issues Prevalent Among Honors College Students, Steven Pham

Honors Theses

The prevalence and severity of mental health disorders on college campuses has been increasing nationwide. This review aims to address some of the prevalent mental health issues that continuously plague college students today. Recent trends in college student mental health are analyzed as well as literature regarding common disorders including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. A comparison of honors and non-honors students is provided to contribute to an otherwise lacking area of research surrounding honors student populations. Effective practices and policies for colleges and universities to incorporate into their counseling services are also considered, with viable goals centering on the …

Connections, 08/2017, College Of Health And Human Services

College of Health and Human Services Newsletter

• Progress in the Department of Physical Therapy
• Bronson School of Nursing receives HRSA grant to improve workforce diversity
• Nursing Assembly Day and Skills Day take over CHHS
• Speech and OT clinics accepting clients for fall
• AHEC fall 2017 newsletter
• Common read event at WMU School of Medicine

Haworth College Of Business News (08/2017), Haworth College Of Business

Haworth College of Business News

• Breakaway to an Emmy Win
• By the Numbers
• Entrepreneurs Making Progress
• Speaker Series
• Industry Workshops
• Building IT Talent
• Ransomware

Fluid Manipulations Using A Piezo Electric Transformer For Sensing And Spray Generation Applications, Zeinab Ramshani

Dissertations

A steady effort has been made on the development of fluid manipulation techniques for sensing and actuating systems. Conventional techniques of fluid manipulation for sensing and spray generation purposes, often need trained staff or high input power and they are complicated, time consuming and expensive. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new systems which can overcome these drawbacks.

In this dissertation, the author has developed piezoelectric-based systems for fluid manipulation. The focus of this dissertation involves novel approaches of enhancing the sensing and actuating systems using the piezoelectric devices. This includes designing a system, which theoretically can overcome the limitations …

Perspectives On Satisfaction For The Clinical Internship In Music Therapy: Differences Between American And International Music Therapy Students And Music Therapists, Wang Lu

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to survey music therapy intern students and professionals across the United States to evaluate their satisfaction regarding their internship experience. 465 responses were collected for this study, 50 American music therapy interns, 353 American music therapy professionals, 12 international music therapy interns, and 50 international music therapy professionals. Data indicated that in the areas of “therapeutic relationship”, “professional role/ethics”, “therapy implementation,” and “documentation”, which are categories of the AMTA competencies, over 91% of the participants indicated that their expectations were mostly or completely met during internship. In contrast, the competency that respondents felt was …