Digital Commons Network^™

Positioning For Elementary School Success: Charting The Journey Of Adopting And Leading School Reform, Nancy Jo Burke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this longitudinal case study was to develop a process and structure for adopting and leading critical school reform initiatives within a rural North Dakota pre-kindergarten through fourth grade elementary school. Elementary principals can use this process and structure to benefit staff, and ultimately, to improve student academic achievement. This longitudinal case study identified factors that facilitated or hindered a rural practicing elementary principal, staff, and school while implementing federal, state, and local school reform initiatives beginning in the 2005-2006 school year.

This longitudinal case study utilized a qualitative, grounded theory and case study approach to identify: (a) …

Identifying Locations Of Highly Eroded Agricultural Land In The Devils Lake Basin, Nd Using Gis Terrain Analysis Modeling, Matthew J. Dinger

Theses and Dissertations

Soil erosion modeling using terrain analysis holds great potential due to the simplicity of the models, and the ease in running the analysis in a GIS. Terrain analysis of the upper Devils Lake basin was conducted using a 3-meter Light Detection and Ranging-derived digital elevation model. Portions of the Mauvais Coulee and Calio Coulee watersheds in the basin were analyzed to evaluate soil erosion potential and determine if terrain analysis was an accurate tool for modeling erosion in this fairly flat landscape. The analysis used slope, flow accumulation, and stream power index (SPI) within a GIS to identify highly eroded …

"There I, Paul Dolnstein, Saw Action." The Sketchbook Of A Warrior Artisan In The German Renaissance, Danielle Mead Skjelver

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides analysis, transcription, and translation of Paul Dolnstein's early sixteenth century annotated sketchbook. The study offers insight into one `type' of German Renaissance mercenary, the sedentary type. Known as Landsknechts, German Renaissance mercenaries were prized for their discipline on the field and for their commanders' ability to provide well equipped and well trained armies for the battlefields of Europe. As opposed to roving Landsknechts who followed the drums of war year in and year out, the sedentary Landsknecht retained his roots and returned to civilian work in his town of origin between campaigns. He might serve in only …

A Comparative Evaluation Of An Educational Program Designed To Enable Mechanical Engineering Students To Develop Global Competence, Aaron Gerald Ball

Theses and Dissertations

The 'flattening of the world', using Thomas Friedman's phraseology, is driving corporations to increasingly use collaborative engineering processes and global teams to operate on a global scale. Globalization of the traditional university engineering curriculum is necessary to help students prepare to work in a global environment. More scalable and economically sustainable program types are needed to enable the majority of students to obtain a globalized education. The purpose of this research was to determine how effectively a global team- and project-based computer aided engineering course provided learning opportunities that enabled students to develop elements of global competence in comparison to …

Towards A Better Use: The Utah Shakespearean Festival, Teaching Artists, And Outreach Programs, Karen Marie Kidd

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching Artists are an important component of the Utah Shakespearean Festival's Education Department's outreach touring program that visits K-12 schools throughout Utah each year. However, the Education Department could be using Teaching Artists in different and better ways to help K-12 teachers infuse theatre into their curriculum. This work looks carefully at the outreach offered by the Utah Shakespearean Festival's Education Department and then compares it to the outreach work being done by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Based on the analysis of the three festivals, assessment benchmarks are identified to aid the Education Department in evaluating …

An Investigative Study Of The Influence Of Religion On Help Seeking Behaviors In The Field Of Mental Health, Kristen Darroch

Theses and Dissertations

The present study was undertaken to assess the influence of religion on help seeking behaviors regarding mental health. Participants (n = 167) were volunteers from three different churches of Christian denominations who anonymously completed questionnaires regarding their religiosity and their attitude toward seeking help from a mental health professional. Analysis of the data found that subjects who belonged to liberal denominations of Christianity were more likely to seek help from a mental health professional for mental health issues than subjects belonging to more traditionally conservative denominations of Christianity. The study also found that subjects belonging to conservative denominations of Christianity …

A Terrain And Meteorological Analysis Of The Battlefield At Shiloh, Tennessee, Charles Blakely Mcclendon

Theses and Dissertations

A terrain analysis of the Shiloh Battlefield is presented in conjunction with a meteorological assessment of the conditions prevalent during the battle. The intent of the analysis was to ascertain the effect that conditions might have played upon the strategic and tactical actions prior to, and during the Battle of Shiloh, 1862. The significance of this study was to determine the influence of meteorological and geographical factors upon the two armies. Values for temperature and precipitation were estimated using the PDSI and data from NOAA. According to the model it was a very wet year. Weather and geography clearly played …

Geochemical Analysis Of Ancient Activities At Two Plazas In Cobá, Mexico, Eric G. Coronel

Theses and Dissertations

Two plazas at Cobá, Mexico, may have been the place of market activity during the classic Maya period. The intense decomposition in the warm, moist soils of the Yucatan Peninsula precludes the identification of organic artifacts in archaeological contexts, but phosphorus and trace elements accumulation in soils may provide evidence of marketing activities. The spatial patterns of P and trace element concentrations were used to elucidate the types of ancient Maya activities that took place in those plazas. Phosphorus concentrations are highly correlated (p-value <0.01) with Fe, Mn, and Zn levels in both Plaza B and D. Although the soil geochemistry of Plaza B does not show a marketplace pattern in comparison with previous studies, the elemental concentrations and distributions within Plaza D join other lines of evidence to support the premise that marketplace activities took place at that location. Soil samples were analyzed using DTPA extraction, Mehlich II, Olsen, and Portable X-Ray Fluorescence (PXRF). Experiments were performed to study the suitability of PXRF for field studies. Aspects that were studied include granule size, soil moisture content, protective plastic films that could interfere with the X-Ray signal when placing the samples on top of the analyzer, and a comparison of certified soil standards to the PXRF elemental concentration readings. The results suggest that a field laboratory could be set up to air-dry and sieve soil samples to a minimum mesh size of #10 (> 2 mm).

The Legacy Of Cotton: A Geographical Perspective On The Influence Of Traditionalist Politics In Mississippi, William Edward Stephen Cottrell

Theses and Dissertations

It was hypothesized that the socialspatial dialectic (location, education, politics and race) contributes to Mississippi’s low livability ranking. Regression models were employed using race, student funding rates, high school graduation rates, property tax, and voter turnout in the 82 counties as variables. The research found evidence that Blacks have lower graduation rates than Whites and property tax has a significant effect on voter participation at the gamma = .001 level. Social capital disadvantage seems to reside within both races with voter participation, property tax rates, and school funding being more pronounced with Whites. Results suggest that political capital should not …

Variability Of Sediment Nutrients And Benthic Macro-Invertebrates In Recreational Fishing Ponds, Tyler James Stubbs

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this study was to identify trends of sediment nutrients and benthic macro-invertebrates in recreational fishing ponds. The Ekman dredge and the Yabby pump, also were compared for benthic macro-invertebrate sampling effectiveness. Large ranges in the coefficient of variation for Pw (52 – 123.9), C:N (13.4 – 124), density (61.5 – 98.5), and diversity (67 – 142) indicated significant spatial variability within and among ponds. Invertebrate familial diversity was the only variable that did not show any significant temporal variation (H = 4.31, P = 0.230). Results from the gear comparison indicated no differences between the Ekman …

Gains In Fluency Measures During Study Abroad In China, Jeongwoon Kim

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis study investigates gains in the speaking of China study abroad (SA) students from Brigham Young University. Pre-and post-program Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview (SOPI) tasks were used to generate multiple fluency measures, such as native judges' subjective fluency ratings, word count, number of unique words, number of filler words, mean pause length, tonal accuracy, etc. The study results display significant differences between pre- and post-tests for all fluency measures. In other words, China SA students were perceived to be more fluent in their speech by native judges after SA; their speech samples show more word (token and type) production, …

A Comparative Study Of Parental Involvement And Its Effect On African-American Male And Overall Student Achievement At Single Gender And Coeducational Middle Schools, Michael Wayne Nellums

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if Parental Involvement influenced academic performance at single gender and co-educational schools. This study also compared African American male academic achievement with all students enrolled in two single gender, and one coeducational, middle school programs. Although all three schools reflected a high poverty student population, the coeducational school boasted a district funded talented and gifted program that has been in existence for almost two decades. The single gender school had no such offering. The coeducational school also had a more experienced teaching staff, with more teachers holding advanced degrees. The study examined …

Teachers' Perception Of Computer Use And Technical Support In A Rural Virginia School Division: A Case Study, Rodney Berry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of computer-based technology and technology support provided by a rural school division; the extent of teachers’ self reported computer skills, comfort levels, perception of obstacles; and the amount of support, time, and training available to them to accomplish the integration during the course of instruction. This research was conducted during the 2010-2011 school term as a case study of a small rural K-12 school division in southern Virginia, consisting of teachers from each core curriculum from each of the three schools, selected deliberately. The study was divided into three phases: …

Evaluating The Success Of Benefit Fraud And Compliance Act In Affecting Wages And Offers For Seven Common H1b Occupations In Virginia, 2002-2010, Khalafala Alsadig

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the role of the Benefits Fraud and Compliance Act (BFCA) in affecting H1B hiring policy in the state of Virginia, as it pertained to seven computer science-related occupations. By employing an independent samples t-test approach, it was discovered that there was a statistically significant difference in H1B actual wages, proposed wages, and per-employer offers before and after BFCA.

The Redesign Of Mechanical Engineering 574: An Exploration In Deductive And Inductive Methods, Alyssa Janae Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Changes in the engineering industry have motivated the redesign of engineering curriculum in recent years. This report documents the redesign of Mechanical Engineering 574, a graduate course in engineering offered at Brigham Young University. The redesign was divided into four phases and used a design narrative to report the design process. Research conducted by the instructor and designer informed the main content of the course. Although the course originally used mainly deductive methods of instruction, by the final phase of the project, the instruction evolved to be primarily inductive in strategy.

A Core Knowledge Based Curriculum Designed To Help Seventh And Eighth Graders Maintain Artistic Confidence, Debbie Ann Labrum

Theses and Dissertations

How do we as art educators help adolescents maintain artistic creation as a way of visual expression? This study reviews artistic approaches among kindergarten through eighth grade students as they relate to the U-curve model of development (Davis, 1997; Pariser & van den Berg, 1997). As an art educator, my observation has been that as students approach seventh and eighth grades they lose confidence in their art making abilities as they try to draw in a realistic manner. When asked if they think they are artists, most are certain that they are not. This lack in confidence is in stark …

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Remodels Its Host Cell-Derived Vacuole Into A Protective Niche By Redecorating The Vacuolar Membrane With Select Rab Gtpases And Bacterial Proteins, Bernice Huang

Theses and Dissertations

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that infects neutrophils to cause the emerging tick-transmitted disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Following entry, the pathogen replicates within a host cell-derived vacuole that fails to mature along the endocytic pathway, does not acidify, and does not fuse with lysosomes. Selective fusogenicity is prototypical of many vacuole-adapted pathogens and has been attributed, at least in part, to pathogen modification of the vacuolar inclusion membrane and/or to selective recruitment or exclusion of host trafficking regulators. As a result, the A. phagocytophilum-occupied vacuolar membrane (AVM) provides a unique interface to study the host-pathogen interactions critical …

Secondary History/Social Studies Teachers’ Self-Efficacy Regarding Geography Teaching, Yan Gao

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher education remains a significant issue affecting the quality of geography instruction in the United States. Teachers’ self-efficacy has been identified as a crucial factor for improving teacher education and promoting educational reform. This study intended to develop a better understanding of the relationships between teacher education programs and secondary history/social studies teachers’ self-efficacy regarding teaching geography, and other demographic factors that could be a possible influence on geography teachers’ self-efficacy. A quantitative research methodology was employed to measure geography teacher efficacy and to explore factors that influence geography teachers’ efficacy in order to identify ways in which preservice and …

Using Authentic Materials To Enhance Reading And Speaking Tasks At The Novice And Intermediate Levels For High School Spanish Instruction, Cinthya Tumlison

Theses and Dissertations

The popularity of authentic materials provides foreign language teachers with more resources to practice communicative language teaching. Finding authentic materials in the target language has become very accessible. Used appropriately, authentic materials can provide students with greater access to the target language and culture. Nevertheless, creating activities using authentic materials without editing the text can be very challenging and time consuming. Sometimes teachers perceive authentic materials to be too difficult and complicated to use for novice learners and would rather only use edited or simplified texts provided by their textbook curriculum. The focus of this thesis is to determine whether …

The Difference Between The Articulation Of Globalization Based Upon Global Education Implementation As Measured By Global Competence Of Secondary Principals In The United States, Maurecia Lee Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

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“A Better Vision Of What Social Studies Can Be”: How Elementary Teachers' Beliefs Influence Their Use Of The “History Alive!” Textbook, Kathryn Hintz

Theses and Dissertations

In this qualitative research project I investigated curricular decision-making and the relationship among teacher philosophies, textbook materials, and effective practice. Participants included five experienced fifth grade teachers who used a comprehensive social studies textbook package, History Alive! America's Past. Information was gathered through five 30–90 minute classroom observations and two or three interviews with each participant. Results indicate that teachers whose beliefs about student capabilities matched the textbook publisher's stated philosophies took full advantage of the program's innovative features. For four teachers, the textbook helped them put their beliefs into practice. One of the participants, who had less clearly-defined goals …

Bobbie Ann Mason's Postsouthernism: The Decline Of Religion In Four Stories From Shiloh And Other Stories, Katherine Brantley Salter

Theses and Dissertations

A consistent theme in author Bobbie Ann Mason's short story collection Shiloh and Other Stories is a break from the traditional religious customs of the U.S. South. As children become adults and move away and as marriages crumble, characters' Christian faith fades, entering their minds only frustrated disillusion. Through their scathing, sarcastic quips and references, Mason's characters exhibit distaste for the traditional attitude toward Christianity in the South. Therefore, Mason's stories deconstruct not only the notion of Christianity's role in the South, but that of the communal strength of family. Using Martyn Bone's definition of "postsouthern" literature in his book …

The Effects Of High School Performing Arts Participation On Educational And Occupational Attainment, Thomas C. Henry

Theses and Dissertations

An important part of almost every student‟s high school experience is participation in an extracurricular activity. Many schools encourage their students to participate in these voluntary activities because they build skills that may not be taught in the classroom, but may be important in becoming successful in school and in the community. Extracurricular activities put students in leadership positions, teach them team work, and can instill a confidence in their abilities. Previous research has shown that participation in extracurricular activities in high school can affect labor market conditions and educational achievements, but few studies have differentiated the impacts of different …

Geospatial Relationships Of Tree Species Damage Caused By Hurricane Katrina In South Mississippi, Mark William Garrigues

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined Hurricane Katrina damage in southeast Mississippi to identify stand and site characteristics that may contribute to wind-related damage. Aggregated forest plot-level biometrics were coupled with storm meteorology, topographical features, and soil attributes using GIS techniques to produce damage maps for specific tree species. Regression Tree Analysis was utilized to explore the relationship between damage type and distance variables (distance to coast/storm track). Results indicated that the total damage class had the greatest relationship with distance variables; individual damage classes (shear and blowdown) displayed a better relationship with stand-level variables (Quadratic Mean Diameter, Lorey’s Mean Height, Trees Per …

Taking The Gospel To The Lamanites: Doctrinal Foundations For Establishing The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints In Mexico, Matthew G. Geilman

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a study about the influence of the Book of Mormon message to the Lamanites upon the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, primarily focusing upon the years 1875-1950. Several important events, people, and publications from the first seventy-five years of the Church's history in Mexico are evaluated as historical case studies in order to examine the extent to which the message to the Lamanites influenced the beginnings of the Latter-day Saints there. These case studies include the first mission to Mexico in 1875, early publications in Spanish, the dedication of Mexico …

The Challenges Of Urban Development Case Study – Prizren, Besa Jagxhiu

Theses and Dissertations

Prizren, what was, what it is now and what is going to be? The city with rich values of cultural and historical heritage, civilization and various religions and ethnicities used to be an important center of culture, trade and diplomacy, during the history, since the antiquity, which was known also as a “City Museum”. Nowadays, unfortunately there are no efforts for preserving and promoting these rich values, and with this trend in which is going, it cannot be seen the bright future for it. Prizren historic center is the best example of urban heritage in Kosovo, which has valuable traces …

Factors Predicting Exercise Behavior Of Graduate Students, Bibha Gautam

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate school is often experienced as a time of increased demands/expectations resulting in heightened levels of stress due to academic work, family responsibilities, job demands, financial pressure, and other life related issues. Besides stress, graduate school also brings about significant physical inactivity due to the shift of the immediate priority to academic accomplishment. Reports of increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among students highlight that this group may have particular risk not well-identified. Yet, relative risk can be reduced by lifestyle modifications, such as eating well, exercising, and stress reduction. The majority of the risk factors, to a …

Quantifying Polypharmacy In Diabetes Patients In The U.S., Jing Tao

Theses and Dissertations

ix Objectives: To quantify polypharmacy and assess the socio-economic predictors of medication use and expenditure in diabetics. Methods: This study analyzed adult diabetes patients using a nationally representative sample in Medical Expenditure Panel Survey in 2006. Top ten most highly utilized drug classes were identified. Descriptive statistics were used to portray the patients’ medication utilization and spending. Generalized linear models were conducted to assess the socio-economic variants in drug use and spending. Results: On average, a diabetes patient had 45 prescriptions in 2006, for total annual spending of $3,161. A diabetes patient used drugs from 3.43 classes within top ten …

A Content Analysis Of Exemplars In Weekly U.S. News Magazines, Lincoln Thomas Hubbard

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to research whether the conditions that give rise to exemplar effects in experimental designs are present in the real world, specifically by conducting a comprehensive content analysis of news articles in weekly U.S. news magazines. Exemplification studies the relationship between examples and the larger population they represent, and how examples effect consumer's perceptions and behaviors (Zillmann & Brosius, 2000). In experimental design several independent variable have been tested and have shown that people's perceptions fall largely in line with the emphasis of the exemplars presented. A stratified random sample of magazines, representative of a whole year, …

Using A Multi-Sensory Teaching Approach To Impact Learning And Community In A Second Grade Classroom, Melissa Stoffers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how multi-sensory education impacts learning and community in a second grade general education classroom. Lesson plans that targeted multiple senses - and oftentimes included team-building activities - were developed and implemented in the classroom. Qualitative data was collected through interviews, focus groups, student work, and a teacher research journal. After analyzing the data, it was revealed that multi-sensory education can lead to student motivation and engagement, as well as provide a generative space for the use of technology and making connections to the outside world. Multi-sensory education can also help teachers to …