Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing Student Mindset, Interest, Participation, And Rapport In The Post-Pandemic Public Speaking Classroom: Effects Of Modality Change And Communication Growth Mindset, Katherine J. Denker, Kendra Knight, Riley K. Carroll, Kathryn R. Bradley, Peyton J. Bonine, Sophia M. Lauck, Heidi S. Przytulski, Michael L. Storr

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The COVID-19 pandemic created an exigency for educators to reevaluate their approaches to the classroom with one major dimension being course modality. This study uses the Instructional Beliefs Model to examine the impacts of course modality (i.e., hybrid versus face-to-face formats) and students’ communication growth mindset on student engagement in the foundational public speaking course. Consistent with pre-COVID-19 findings, the results indicated that modality does not significantly impact student engagement, with one exception: higher cognitive interest scores were reported among students in the hybrid modality. Communication growth mindset associated positively with all student engagement variables examined: student interest–emotional, student interest–cognitive, …

The Communication Discipline And Peace Education: A Valuable Intersection For Disrupting Violence In Communication Centers, Victoria Mcdermott, Cortney Smith, Amy R. May

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Violence is a significant issue impacting the physical, mental, social, and economic health of our learning communities. For decades the discipline of peace education has explored the effects of nonphysical violence on students and educators, as well as ways to create more peaceful, less violent, and equitable educational practices. While communication frameworks have been used in peace education research, no research found has theorized the potential value of peace education for the communication discipline. Using the contextual background of communication centers, this piece seeks to disrupt steadfast norms and practices within communication centers from the perspective of peace education. We …

Needs Assessment Of National Communication Association Conference Presentations: Members' Perceptions Of Presentation Effectiveness, Values, And Challenges, Piyawan Charoensap-Kelly, Deanne Priddis, Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter Phd

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

This study analyzed the National Communication Association (NCA) members’ perceptions regarding the effectiveness of their own and their peer presentations and the challenges they faced when preparing and giving conference presentations. Overall, participants (n = 187) feel fairly content with the effectiveness of NCA conference presentations and the value they have gained from them. The effectiveness of others’ presentations has a significant association with members’ perceived value of the conference presentations. The lack of experience and lack of confidence are key variables that heighten anxiety which can impact the effectiveness of presentations. Process anxiety was positively associated with presentation effectiveness …

Middle-Class “Chavs” From Working-Class Areas? Habitus, The Attainment Gap, And The Commodification Of Higher Education Among Communication Students In England, Martina Topić, Audra Diers-Lawson, Christian Goodman

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The purpose of the article is to compare and contrast higher education and research among public relations and journalism students of middle-class and working-class origin. The paper applied Bourdieu’s theory of habitus to analyze prejudices against the working class, explores whether working-class students express an anti-education view, and whether the appreciation of education (and research in particular) is a predominantly middle-class attitude. Focus groups and an online questionnaire were used to obtain views of students at a university in Northern England. Triple coding (open, axial, selective) was used and the data was then analyzed and presented using thematic analysis. Findings …

Online Learning In A “Fancy Prison”: The Impact Of Covid-19 On The International Student Academic Experience While Living In A Quarantine Hotel, Kristen Foltz Esq., Lacey C. Brown Phd

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic during the spring 2020 academic semester resulted in many international undergraduate students evacuating the United States to return to their home countries. Some faced government-mandated quarantine in a designated quarantine hotel upon their entry into the country which overlapped with the end of the spring semester or start of summer term. Interviewers conducted qualitative interviews on Zoom with international students enrolled at American universities regarding their experiences with online learning while in isolation. This extreme environment had negative implications for their psychological well-being as well as their ability to self-motivate. Researchers formulated best …

Coming To Terms Will Do It: Students Engaging With Climate Change Through Sensemaking And Collective Efficacy Perceptions, Sean Quartz

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Within climate change instruction, effective instructional crisis communication is necessary to attain cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning outcomes so students comprehensively learn the reality and implications of this planetary crisis. I locate this learning as coming to terms with climate change. This study explores how students affectively and cognitively learned to come to terms with the immense threat of the climate crisis outside their initial exposure to climate change fear appeals communicated in their classrooms. Drawing from interviews and focus groups with college students, I found students came to terms with climate change outside their classrooms by coping with the …

Practicing Critical Thinking Skills Within A Pedagogy Of Renewal, Edward A. Hinck

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The COVID-19 “pivot” created challenges for instructors in adapting their teaching strategies to the various forms of technology available for virtual delivery. One positive outcome discovered for teaching an introduction to debate class was the use of Blackboard’s discussion board feature to assess student learning regarding understanding and application of concepts of evidence and reasoning for an introduction to debate class. This essay provides an account of how I adapted my teaching strategies, the assignment for student participation created to assess student learning, and positive outcomes for students needing time to process arguments and respond in a virtual forum.

Heading For The Future After Covid-19: Reflections And Recommendations On Teaching Processes In A Rapidly Changing Learning Landscape, Wanda Reyes-Velázquez, Carmen Pacheco-Sepúlveda

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The COVID-19 pandemic posed numerous challenges for instructors and students. Professors, for example, struggled to quickly and effectively migrate face-to-face courses to remote teaching modalities. What had not been anticipated, however, were the additional challenges to be managed when returning to face-to-face and in-person teaching. This reflective essay provides some insight into how faculty at the University of Puerto Rico attempted to modify teaching practices to re-engage disengaged students as they returned to the campus classroom. Also, recommendations about how to move forward by applying a pedagogy of renewal are made.

The Pedagogy Of Renewal: Black Women, Reclaiming Joy, And Self-Care As Praxis, Ashley R. Hall, Tiffany J. Bell

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The 2020 quote defining the pandemic era was “The New Normal,” which, for Black women, implies a need for structural and personal transformation. In this essay, we incorporate the concepts of culturally relevant pedagogy (Bell & Jackson, 2021) and critical autoethnography (Boylorn, 2020; Boylorn & Orbe, 2021) to amplify a Black feminist ethos of self-care as an embodied praxis. Reflecting on the embodied experiences of two Black women professors, we advance a crucial notion of self-care as a pedagogy of renewal to reclaim joy through generative and transformative modes, methods, and meanings.

Promoting Longevity Through Engagement In Purposeful Occupations, Jennifer K. Fortuna

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Ron Henry, an artist based in Grand Junction, CO, provided the cover art for the Fall 2022 edition of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). “On the Trail to Durango” is a 36” x 36” painting made from oil and acrylic on gesso board. Ron has been creating beautiful art since he was a child. Art has provided Ron with a strong sense of purpose throughout his life. At age 90, Ron attributes his longevity to living a healthy lifestyle and regular engagement in purposeful occupations, such as painting. In this tenth anniversary issue of OJOT, Occupation and the …

Benefits Of Peer-Mentorship For Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Students: A Descriptive Study, Robert G. Gallagher, Razan Hamed

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This study explored the benefits of a new peer-mentorship program designed for Master's-level occupational therapy students.

Method: This was a descriptive study of an entry-level Master’s of occupational therapy (MOT) program. A group of entry-level MOT students participated in the program as mentees (n = 37 in summer 2019, n = 39 in fall 2019) and mentors (n = 9 in summer 2019, n = 8 in fall 2019) for two academic semesters. Feedback about the process and outcomes of the peer-mentorship program was collected at the end of each semester.

Results: The data showed that mentees reported …

Leadership Practices Of State Associations: Does State President Leadership Style Encourage Membership?, Leslie M. Sizemore

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: This research addressed the “graying” of the professional state occupational therapy association as new clinicians are more frequently making the decision not to join. It is particularly relevant for boards who are attempting to establish and retain members.

Method: To assess the leadership styles of presidents of state occupational therapy associations and to examine the impact of leadership style on membership status, this research examined the self-perceived leadership styles of state occupational therapy association presidents, as measured by the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), a tool developed by Kouzes and Posner, authors of the Exemplary Leadership Model. It …

A Scoping Review Exploring The Use Of Art-Making-As-Therapy In Adult Mental Health Occupational Therapy Practice, Alan Johnson, Samantha Ashby, Miranda Lawry

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Art-making-as-therapy has been used by occupational therapists in mental health since the inception of the profession. It aims to enable people to gain mastery and produce art. This review synthesizes the research on the use of art-making as therapy by occupational therapists in adult mental health practice.

Method: Arksey and O’Malley’s 5-stage framework was used. A search of four databases was conducted with the inclusion criteria of papers from 1980 – 2020 using the keywords of occupational therapy, mental health or illness, and art. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

Results: Of the 847 …

Promoting Self-Management Of Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Through The Remotivation Process, Kaye Rubio, Patricia Bowyer, Sherry Hite, Vidya Pingale, Wyona Freysteinson, Gayle Hersch, Christine Raber Phd, Otr/L

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. Lymphedema affects a significant number of women with breast cancer. Self-Management Programs (SMP) are important in the long-term management of chronic conditions such as lymphedema. Motivation is crucial in the daily performance of the SMP. The study explored the effect of the Remotivation Process on the motivation of women with breast cancer-related lymphedema to incorporate an SMP into their daily routine.

Methodology. The study was a within-subjects quasi-experimental design that used the Volitional Questionnaire, frequency count of the SMP, and circumferential measurement as outcome measures. Eleven participants (n = 11) with breast cancer-related lymphedema completed the study …

The Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (Mnri®): A Scoping Review, Lucretia A. Berg, Daniela Brown, Kaylee Kroll, Chandler Pfaff, Lesli Cleveland

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background. The Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI^®) method emerged from Russia in the 1990s as an intervention to improve maturation, development, and functional abilities for a variety of clients. MNRI^® has since become an emerging intervention in occupational therapy in the US, particularly with pediatric clients. The evidence supporting use of MNRI^® remains limited.

Method. Using updates by Levac and colleagues (2010) to the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) process for scoping review, databases and the MNRI^®website were searched. Fourteen unique articles were identified and reviewed. Articles were categorized by common characteristics and …

Three-Dimensional Motion Analysis For Occupational Therapy Upper Extremity Assessment And Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review, Stephen W. Hill, Samantha Mong, Quyen Vo

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) human motion analysis provides objective, quantitative, and reliable kinematic data that are valuable in rehabilitation. Clinicians, including occupational therapists and other specialists, can apply this technology to quantify patients’ upper extremity (UE) motion during functional tasks. A better comprehension of altered body mechanics serves to guide clinical reasoning, develop evidence-based interventions, and monitor patients’ progress through follow-up. However, the scientific literature has yet to emphasize the practicality of using 3D motion analysis as a clinical measurement tool.

Method: This scoping review appraised 20 articles that used 3D motion analysis to quantify UE movements for individuals …

The Occupational Impact Of Mass Shootings: A Qualitative Study Of Survivor Accounts, Ashley Ellsworth, Susan Macdermott, Bridget Scheidler

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: As mass shootings continue to persist in the United States, their occupational impact on victims needs further understanding. The purpose of this study was to examine stories shared by survivors of mass shootings to determine whether changes in occupational participation, performance, and fulfillment of meaningful roles and performance patterns occurred following the incident.

Method: Unobtrusive methods were used to collect and analyze publicly accessible audiovisual and written records following a qualitative research design. Themes were developed through thematic analysis.

Results: Victims at varying degrees of association to the event experienced changes in their occupational performance, participation, …

Client-Centered Practice When Professional And Social Power Are Uncoupled: The Experiences Of Therapists From Marginalized Groups, Brenda L. Beagan, Kaitlin R. Sibbald, Tara M. Pride, Stephanie R. Bizzeth

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Client-centeredness is foundational to occupational therapy, yet virtually no research has examined this aspect of practice as experienced by therapists from marginalized groups. The discourse of client-centeredness implicitly assumes a “dominant-group” therapist. Professional power is assumed to be accompanied by social power and privilege. Here, we explore what happens when professional and social power are uncoupled.

Method: In-depth interviews grounded in critical phenomenology were conducted with Canadian therapists (n = 20) who self-identified as disabled, minority sexual/gender identity (LGBTQ+), racialized, ethnic minority, and/or from working-class backgrounds. Iterative thematic analysis employed constant comparison using ATLAS.ti for team coding. …

Wmu Board Of Trustees Formal Session September 15, 2022, Wmu Board Of Trustees

WMU Board of Trustees Meetings

Acceptance of the Agenda

Approval of the Minutes (June 23, 2022 Meeting)

Remarks by the Chair

Remarks by the President

Updates by the Faculty Senate President

Updates by the Western Student Association President

Updates by the Graduate Student Association Director of Outreach

Inspiring Global Impact; Earth Sciences Remote Sensing (ESRS)

Public Comments Regarding Action Items

Action Items

• State Capital Outlay Plan Priority List
• Closing of Quasi-Endowments Valued Less Than $50,000

Consent Items

• Personnel Report
• One-Day Liquor License Application, Richmond Center for Visual Arts, October 14, 2022
• Annuity and Life Income Funds Performance Report
• Operating Cash Investment Performance Report

General Public …

Sharon Carlson Part 2: An Expert On Historic Wmu, University Libraries

East Campus Oral Histories

Dr. Sharon Carlson, Professor Emerita and Archival Consultant, sits for her second of two interviews with Cassie Kotrch at the Zhang Legacy and Collections Center to share her stories and memories during her time working at the Archives and on East Campus.

Developing Preservice Teachers’ Critical Literacy Praxis In A Rural Teacher Education Program, Vera Sotirovska, Margaret Vaughn

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This research examined preservice teachers’ beliefs about critical literacy praxis in a rural teacher education program. Using qualitative methods, preservice teachers participated in interviews, reflective engagements, and picture book analysis. Thematic analysis was used to understand preservice teacher reflections on critical literacy, structured around discussions about multicultural literature, and preservice teacher experiences with critical literacy practices in their coursework. This article presents preservice teachers’ beliefs on critical literacy praxis.

Teacher Agency As A Route To Adaptive Expertise: Relational, Informed, And Reflective Action, Jennifer Sharples Reichenberg

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This case study of two fourth-grade teachers explored teachers’ literacy instructional practices and perceptions of their professional agency during the hybrid synchronous teaching of the COVID-19 pandemic. In anticipation of the challenges of hybrid synchronous instruction, these teachers combined their classes to co-teach 39 students. Analysis of observation and interview data showed that the co-teachers acted as adaptive experts. They reflected on challenges such as maintaining students’ focus, developing rapport, and gaining active participation. Their collaborative reflection informed adaptations to increase students’ access to learning by employing multiple modalities, developing community, and enacting inclusive practices. Teachers also supported students’ agency …

Shifting Beliefs About The Teaching Of Reading: Teacher Candidates’ Responses To The Book Whisperer, Kathleen M. Crawford, Michelle Reidel

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In this document analysis, the authors explored if and how Miller’s (2009) The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child served as a symbolic model of a reading teacher who teaches her students not just the technical aspects of reading, but also how to enjoy reading. Drawing on social learning theory, the authors investigated how the selected text connected to elementary preservice teachers’ personal reading experiences with reading and learning to read, their preexisting beliefs about teaching reading, and their current observations of reading instruction in field placements. Written reflections, which served as the data source for this …

Three Essays On Social Networks And Schools, Yunzheng Zheng

Dissertations

Researchers have been increasingly interested in the phenomenon of social networks in education, a research area that provides more opportunities to study the relationships among individuals or organizations in our educational system. The goal of this dissertation was to understand the effect of various social networks on outcomes by investigating various relationships in the educational system. To achieve the goal, three distinct, but related, essays comprised this dissertation.

In the first essay, I examined the effects of interschool networks on student achievement. By using the data collected from the High Impact Leadership (HIL) program and employing the hierarchical linear model …

A Brief Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Protocol For Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial For Inpatient Detoxification Patients, Taylor R. Weststrate

Dissertations

Alcohol detoxification inevitability involves physical and emotional discomfort. Common withdrawal symptoms include experiences of nausea, muscle pain, stomach and headaches, shakiness, restlessness, anxiety, and agitation. Rarer, but more severe, withdrawal symptoms can include hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens. Pharmacologic treatment of withdrawal symptoms is the primary, and often only, approach to intervention. The current study examined the incremental efficacy of adding a psychotherapeutic program based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for individuals struggling with withdrawal during alcohol detoxification in a residential rehabilitation center. This study compared the standard of care, medication management, which was treatment as usual (TAU) at …

Pathways To Success For African American Students At Predominately White Institutions: A Qualitative Study Exploring Academic Readiness, Jeffery Jackson

Dissertations

African American students’ completion of post-secondary education is among the lowest of any other subgroup in higher education (Banks & Dohy, 2019; Broom, 2018; Carter- Francique et al., 2015; Cokley et al., 2016; Dulabaum, 2016; Karkouti, 2016; Moragne-Patterson & Barnett, 2017; Strayhorn, 2017). This study focuses on addressing this problem by exploring the academic and social experiences of African American college students who persisted at a regional predominantly White institution (PWI) in the Midwest and secure information that can be used to improve their graduation rates.

To address this issue, this study is designed to explore initiatives and practices that …

Counseling Supervisors' Experiences Facilitating Supervisees' Cultural Competence, Christopher D. Bozell

Dissertations

A vital attribute of counselors to provide quality client care is cultural competence. Counseling supervisors are tasked to demonstrate cultural competence in supervisory interventions by aiding the supervisees in increasing their knowledge, awareness of attitudes and beliefs, and skills related to culturally sensitive practice. Although many professional organizations require counseling supervisors to provide culturally competent supervision, very few studies have examined how counseling supervisors demonstrate their skills. This qualitative Descriptive Phenomenological study explored the experiences of counseling supervisors when facilitating supervisees’ cultural competence.

Ten individual semi-structured interviews with counseling internship site supervisors were conducted to collect data about their experiences …

Relative Effects Of Self-Paced And Machine-Paced Learning Under Computer-Based Training, Eunju Choi

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a self-paced instruction versus machine-paced instruction using a computerized format. Instructional applications such as Programmed Instruction and Computer-Based Instruction have long touted the benefits of self-pacing (e.g., teaching machines, Personalized System of Instruction), but direct comparisons of different pacing types are lacking. Some preliminary research suggests that self-pacing may be prone to distraction by competing reinforcers and overall poor self-management of time. As such, it may be possible that machine-paced lessons (based on optimal timings) may foster better learning while retaining other beneficial features of CBI (interactivity, flexibility of …

Determining The Effectiveness Of Virtually-Delivered Written Exposure Therapy For Treatment Of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Stephanie M. Haft

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted individuals with mental health issues (Swendsen, 2020). Although the peak destruction of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, the psychological fallout remains. Social isolation, home confinement, and travel restrictions have exacerbated mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to negative psychological distress (Smith et al., 2020). Survivors of trauma have higher vulnerability to prolonged psychological distress than the general population and others with non-trauma-related mental health conditions, which has been exacerbated during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. For these reasons, survivors of trauma may particularly benefit from virtual-delivery of trauma-focused treatments. Mental health providers …

Attachment And Older Adults In Psychotherapy: A Latent Profile Analysis Of Psychological Distress Across Treatment, Brian Michael Stran

Dissertations

Older adults have been largely underrepresented within the psychotherapy literature. Given the unique social and emotional changes associated with older age (Carstensen et al., 1999) and the perceived gap in training that trainees report in working with older adults (Woodhead et al., 2015), there is a pressing need for research that can aid mental health practitioners in the conceptualization, treatment planning, and treatment of their older adult clients.

In the first part of this manuscript, an integrated theoretical model, consisting of socioemotional selectivity theory (SEST; Carstensen et al., 1999) and attachment theory (Bowlby 1969), was developed to provide psychotherapists with …