Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey On The Effectiveness Of The Flipped Classroom In The Communication Sciences, Amanda Bange

Honors Theses

This study examines how the flipped classroom model impacts student performance in the communication sciences. The flipped classroom is defined as an educational technique that utilizes technology to provide lecture materials outside of class time, while students complete projects and engage in discussion in class with the professor. Twenty-six participants responded to a survey regarding their flipped classroom experiences in four spring semester speech­ language pathology and audiology classes. Responses were mixed, indicating a dislike of the formatting of the style while appreciating the extra practice, question-and-answer time, and thorough engagement with the topic that the flipped classroom model provided.

Environmental Clearinghouse Of Schenectady, Kate Van Patten

Honors Theses

This paper analyses Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady, a local nonprofit environmental organization. The paper investigates the history of the organization as well as the effectiveness of its organizational and funding habits. A literary review was conducted to analyze the success of ECOS mission as well as the positive effects ECOS has on society using elements such as environmental education, the importance of early environmental education, how well the organization connects urban residents with the outdoors and the effectiveness of environmental programs. This research promotes the importance of early environmental education on our future generations health and environmental conditions. Additionally, through …

Language Use By Spanish Heritage Speakers In The Classroom And The World And The Implications For Educators, Amanda Deras

Honors Theses

Looking at the patterns of language use, language attitudes, and language ideologies, this literature review investigates how Spanish heritage speakers’ use of Spanish and their views on using Spanish translate into the classroom. This paper looks at Spanish heritage language use in both official and unofficial spaces, putting emphasis on use in the classroom. Additionally, it looks at the language attitudes and ideologies Spanish heritage language speakers have toward the use of Spanish, English, and “Spanglish” in different contexts. Heritage language speakers, particularly Spanish heritage language speakers, are growing in number in the United States and in American schools. In …

The Impact Of The 120/150-Hour Rule On Candidates To Sit For The Certified Public Accountant (Cpa) Exam: A Study On Women, Aubrey Sanders

Honors Theses

To become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), one must first qualify to take the exam and consequently, earn the licensure. While the information on the CPA exam tests the candidates on uniform information, the education eligibility requirements to both sit for and earn licensure vary among the U.S. states and jurisdictions. Currently, thirty-nine of the fifty-four U.S. jurisdictions – including Mississippi – have adopted what has become known as the 120/150 educational credit hour rule. This rule allows candidates to begin taking the exam upon earning 120 credit hours, which is equivalent to a bachelor's degree; however, candidates may not …

The Knowledge Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Among College Students, Annie Doster

Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to address the perceived and actual knowledge levels of sexually transmitted diseases (STDS) among college students at a southern university. The sample consisted of 138 participants over the age of 18 enrolled as undergraduate students at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). A questionnaire was distributed via email listserv to the undergraduate population at USM assessing the attitudes and knowledge surrounding sexually transmitted diseases. The survey included three sections for the assessment of each variable: 12 demographic questions, 20 statements assessing student attitudes regarding the quality of their previous sex education and perceived knowledge, …

The Criminalization Of Education: Combating The School-To-Prison Pipeline Through Disciplinary Policy And Social Change, Lindsay Hemminger

Honors Theses

This thesis builds on previous literature about the implications of zero tolerance policies, policing in schools, and the school-to-prison pipeline. I evaluate the evolution of disciplinary policies within public school districts since the abandoning of zero tolerance. Specifically, I use the Schenectady and Niskayuna districts and apply theories about discipline, class, race, and achievement to evaluate and compare the ways in which the school-to-prison pipeline and disciplinary policies function. Through a series of case studies, I found that both schools, like many others, have taken significant steps towards moving away from criminalizing and punitive disciplinary measures. However, because of the …

Campbell Elementary Afterschool Nutrition Science Club: Fun With Food, Natalie Strawhecker

Honors Theses

Several schools in the Lincoln Public School district have afterschool programs for students from 3:30-5:00pm in order to provide a safe and fun place for students to play while their parents are still at work. For this Honors Thesis an afterschool nutrition club was created for students to learn about MyPlate and healthy living.

A seven-week curriculum was created for students at Campbell Elementary with each week focusing on a different food group in MyPlate and healthy living as a whole. In order to track the students’ progress, an eight question pre and post quiz was developed. A weekly journal …

Creating Effective Mental Health Programs In Rural Middle Schools: A Case Study Of Challenges, Policy And Programming, Katelyn Kempf

Honors Theses

Using a case study approach, this study investigated the current status of mental health programs and resources within a specific middle school in Eastern Rural Pennsylvania. Interviews were conducted with a school counselor, principal, teacher, social worker and mental health liaison in order to uncover the perceived strengths and weaknesses of mental health resources at this school, and the perceived barriers to providing mental healthcare. Data analysis revealed that the main barriers included parental involvement, parental follow-through, transportation and funding. Further questions were identified for future research within this school in order to create specific recommendations for improvement. Additionally, a …

Launch-Explore-Summarize In High School Calculus, Nate Mattis

Honors Theses

Current research on high school calculus instruction indicates that students often possess a procedural knowledge of differentiation and integration as opposed to a conceptual knowledge (Orton, 1983; Ferrini-Mundy & Graham, 1994). Given the prominence of traditional lecture and textbook-based calculus classes in the United States, students are not always given the opportunity to expand their conceptual knowledge of essential calculus concepts. This project introduces calculus students to a more active and communal method of teaching: Launch-Explore-Summarize (LES) (CMP, n.d.). This methodology places students at the center of their learning and emphasizes inquiry-based thinking during a class. Specifically, two LES lessons …