Digital Commons Network^™

A Qualitative Investigation Of Student Interactions In A Learning Activity Center: Defining Success, At-Risk Factors, And Resiliency For Developmental Programs In Community Colleges, John L. Kalkwarf

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This purposive study selected ten students of different background in order to understand how the educational success of adults was affected by Learning Activity Centers (LAC) in a community college. The ten selected students were all non-traditional students who had at least these three at-risk factors: (a) they scored below the college minimums on a diagnostic test in reading, writing, or mathematics, (b) they were below student financial aid guidelines, and (c) they had an interrupted educational history of two or more years. The ten students were paired into five categories: (a) Sudanese males, (b) Mexican females, (c) single parent …

The Mind Is The Tabernacle Of The Consciousness Soul: A Journey Visiting The Roles Of Consciousness, Communication, Education, And Technology In Human And Curriculum Development By Integrating Dewey, Gebser, And Steiner: Past, Present, Future, Daniel Joseph Kazim Bardy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This descriptive philosophical study examines 355+ question seeds of thought and discourse on consciousness, communication, education, and technology, much in the contexts of philosophical structures of human beings from 4,000,000 B.C. hominid man to the future of humankind and genetic enhancement. Curriculum and consciousness discussion of American John Dewey (1859–1952), Polish-born Jean Gebser (1905–1975), and Austrian-born Rudolf Steiner (1865–1920) is interwoven, finding commonalities of these philosophers and that of Daniel J. K. Bardy. Language being developed only 50,000 years ago is the defining point for Homo sapiens as the tool of linguistic communication, mutated forward much like the protrusion development …

Inventory Simulation And Optimization Using System Dynamics, Structural Modeling Equations And Genetic Algorithms In The Drivetrain Division Of An Automotive Manufacturer, Marco Sisfontes-Monge

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Strategic planning and control are among the most critical activities that modern enterprises require to succeed in the global economy. This research is an original study that investigated the combination of tools and methodologies in order to apply them to a midwestern tractor manufacturer. The current study identified the constraints applicable to a polishing line in the Drivetrain Division of a major tractor manufacturer interested in exploring alternative techniques to improve its worldwide manufacturing operations.

The specific questions that this project tried to respond are stated as follows:

1. What were the most important variables that affected inventory levels of an …

Opportunity And Access For Children With Disabilities In The Inclusive Preschool Classroom, Jodi Meyer-Mork

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In this qualitative case study, I investigated how one teacher provided opportunity and access to full classroom participation for children with disabilities in the inclusive preschool classroom over two academic years. The site was a state-funded preschool program for children considered at risk for school failure. The principle participants included a preschool teacher with more than 22 years of experience and ten preschoolers identified with mild to moderate disabilities. In this naturalistic inquiry (Bogdan & Biklen, 2003), data were collected through participant observation over two academic years. Primary data sources included descriptive and analytic field notes as well as formal …

Sticks, Stones, & Stigmas: A Social-Cognitive Account Of Stereotype Threat Mechanisms, Michael C. Philipp

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Stereotype threat effects have been a popular domain of much psychological inquiry over the past decade. A number of psychological dispositions (e.g., high levels of stigma consciousness, high levels of social dominance orientation, and high levels of domain identification), situational factors (e.g., out-group presence and task difficulty), and physiological characteristics ( e.g., levels of circulating testosterone) have been identified as factors that determine one's susceptibility to the performance debilitating effects of negative stereotype activation. Although each of these variables has been found to be important in eliciting underperformance under threat, no attempts have yet investigated the relationships between these variables. …

Border Crossings: Understanding The Civil, Criminal, And Immigration Implications For Battered Immigrants (And Others) Fleeing Across State Lines With Their Children, Catherine F. Klein, Leslye E. Orloff, Hema Sarangapani

Scholarly Articles

This article provides an overview of the impact of state criminal parental kidnapping or custodial interference statutes on immigrant survivors of domestic violence who already have left or wish to leave their state with their children. Specifically, it discusses the jurisdictional laws that relate to interstate custody, criminal implications of intrastate versus interstate custodial interference, the varying applicability of custodial interference statutes for parents who do and do not have court-ordered custody of their children, statutory exceptions or defenses available to survivors of domestic violence facing prosecution on charges of criminal parental kidnapping, and immigration consequences related to a conviction …

Achievement Goal Theory: A Preliminary Study Examining Educators' Motivational Beliefs And Practices, Marc Groen

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Achievement goal theory has become one of the most promising motivational theories examining both student motivation and achievement. The purpose of this study was to expand the current body of research on achievement goal theory by exploring educators' motivational beliefs and instructional practices. Data was collected from two Eastern Iowa school districts using an online survey. Results from this preliminary study provide important information about the practical nature of motivational problems from the perspective of elementary and middle school educators. The author explores the implications of the findings for educators, school psychologists, and future research.

The Business Fallout From The Rapid Obsolescence And Plannedobsolescence Of High-Tech Products: Downsizing Of Noncompetition Agreements, Ann C. Hodges, Porcher L. Taylor Iii

Law Faculty Publications

The recent rapid pace of technological change has made human capital more important, yet it has rendered the employee’s knowledge base obsolete more quickly. Employers use covenants not to compete, restricting employees from switching to work for competitors, in order to retain knowledgeable personnel. Currently, the lack of predictability in interpreting noncompete agreements allows employers to draft overly-lengthy noncompetes, encourages enforcement litigation, and curtails employees from changing jobs because of the fear of litigation. Employees should not be prevented from working for competitors for longer than is necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate interest. Use of obsolescence as a guide …

The Ncaa's Regulations Related To The Use Of Agents In The Sport Of Baseball: Are The Rules Detrimental To The Best Interest Of The Amateur Athlete?, Richard T. Karcher

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

First, this Article will discuss the NCAA regulations applicable to all sports regarding the use of agents by amateur athletes. Next, this Article will discuss (i) the mechanics of the annual Major League Baseball draft, (ii) the factors that contribute to the necessity and desire for amateur baseball players to retain a competent agent or lawyer before they have extinguished their NCAA eligibility, and (iii) how the NCAA regulations are detrimental to both drafted and draft-eligible amateur baseball players. Finally, this Article will discuss how the NCAA should revise its regulations to better serve the amateur athlete in the sport …

Tragedy And Triumph In Title Ix, Welch Suggs

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

The NCAA is trying to send a stronger message about the importance of the educational goals of college sports, as evidenced by the elevation of academic standards. However, colleges send a powerful message to parents by rewarding them for allowing their children to play a single sport year-round, to the exclusion of other activities. If sport offers a stronger guarantee of college admission than study--and Bowen's work indicates that is true not just at big-time sports powerhouses, but also at the country's most prestigious colleges--who can blame a student or parent from diving into sports? The future of women's athletics …

Using Office Referral Data To Help Understand School-Wide Discipline, Sarah Remakel-Henkels

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Some schools looking to create and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment implement Positive Behavior Supports (PBS). Maintaining a safe and supportive school requires a solid sense of the current school climate and a continuous improvement process for measuring progress and making appropriate corrections. Schools need to be keeping track of whether a safe, supportive learning community is being provided to all students all of the time through key indicator data.

Due to the increased amount of accountability being placed upon schools and states through NCLB, there is also an increased amount of academic data collection required. One school …

Attitudes Toward Abortion Among Religious Traditions In The United States: Change Or Continuity?, John P. Hoffmann, Sherrie Mills Johnson

Faculty Publications

Abortion continues to be a highly contentious issue in the United States, with few signs of abatement. The goal of this paper is to specify how variable positions about abortion across religious traditions have led to differential shifts in attitudes among their members. Based on culturally relevant events, position papers, and other religious media, the guiding hypotheses propose that Evangelicals have become increasingly opposed to abortion for elective reasons; yet changes in attitudes regarding abortion for traumatic reasons are due primarily to cohort shifts. Data from the cumulative General Social Surveys (1972–2002) are used to test the hypotheses. The first …

Constitutionally Excluded Confessions: Applying America's Lessons To A Democratic Iraq, Joseph T. Thai

Oklahoma Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Prescription For Drug Liability And Regulation, Victor E. Schwartz, Phil Goldberg

Oklahoma Law Review

No abstract provided.

Electronically Posted Course Materials And Classroom Attendance, Shawnda Bentley

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The problem of this study was to determine the attitudes of Old Dominion University undergraduates enrolled in OTS 102, Advertising and Promotion, who receive instructor's electronically posted course material and their attendance in class.

Virginia Quality Institute's Conflict Management Training, Marguerite Inscoe

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

The purpose of this study was determine if Virginia Quality Institute's conflict management training attendees were successful in using the recommended conflict strategies and verbal techniques to mitigate difficult conversations and conflict situations at their job.

Organizational Behavior And Leadership, Steelman Library, Sheila A. Cornea

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Pastoral Counseling, Steelman Library, David H. Boyd Dr.

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Center For Children With Special Needs: Investigating Architectural Design Through A Child's Perception Of Place, Michael P. Wild

Architecture Theses

Embodying energy, emotion and youthfulness, children are a delicate and sensitive part of our communities. Unfortunately because of their size and growing immune systems, when faced with illness children tend to need special attention in order to regain their bodies balance and health. Therefore, developing a building and creating a special environment for children to recover in is an important feature to the Fargo community. The building[s] will need to encompass the children's creative thoughts and ideals, sustaining a typology which will support and nurture their time of healing and recovery.

Total-Care Cancer Center: A Holistic Approach To Medical Care, Tammy Hieb

Architecture Theses

The Total-Care Cancer Center will be an extension of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Currently people from all over the world come to the Mayo Cancer Center for patient care, treatment, research and educational opportunities. Part of the Mayo Clinic's focus is on research in order to provide the best patient care through exploration and experience. The facility will continue to provide patient care and treatment but with a broader, unique approach. The new Cancer Center will facilitate space for research development and hands on leaning for staff, students, patients and family members. The goal is to create a …

Resource And Diagnostic Center For Developmental Disabilities, Erin Rae Kelash

Architecture Theses

Psychology as it relates to architecture was investigated in order to determine appropriate design requirements for a resource and diagnostic center for individuals with developmental disabilities. The fundamental hypothesis of this thesis is that medical and psychological issues can inform proper health care design. Specifically, creating an environment which promotes both physical and psychological comfort is vital to the effectiveness of the treatment, research and education which takes place in this building.

Color, Light, Form & Sound: A New Religious Building For Common Ground Church, Jason D. Cain

Architecture Theses

Commonly, the word 'church' is most often associated with Christians, and the word 'church' is both defined as the building for worship, as well as the congregation. The religious building is a space used to worship and build a relationship with God. Architectural design does not have the ability to create that relationship with God. However, a well-designed religious building can contribute to the experience that the congregation has during worship. In Lake Elmo, MN, Common Ground Church is in need of a new religious building. The conceptual basis for the new design is that color, form, sound, and light …

Humanizing Architecture For Healthcare: Designing A Balance Between System Centered And Patient Centered Architecture, Heather Helland

Architecture Theses

Far too often the meaning of architecture for health care has been focused on the notion of a provider (system)— center care instead of a patient—centered care. This paper will explain the notion of how crucial the relationship is between both. Those buildings that achieve a balance between the two have arrived at a state of equality and become symbols of civic pride. More specifically, this study will take place on the island of St. Thomas. The hospital of the island has been scorned for its deplorable condition both inside and out. It was not uncommon for the newspapers to …

Movie House: Fantasizing The Ideal, Saint Paul, Minnesota, Travis Sheridan Bean

Architecture Theses

The focus for this thesis project is the need to represent the real or fantasize the ideal in an urban environment with the design of a multi screen movie house. Designing a structure which involves a transition from the real world into one where space and time have been temporarily suspended. Through research, digital technology has advanced sound and projection equipment. Current cinemas throughout St. Paul, lack the guest amenities and visual intensity of the movies shown there. The design of a revolutionary multi screen Movie House would expand cinematic entertainment to the wonderfully energetic St. Paul seven corners area. …

Native Architecture: Sustainable Design Theory Applied To Affordable Housing In A Rural Setting, David Witham

Architecture Theses

This project will seek a holistic and sustainable solution to rural housing and community design. The community of Cannonball will be the subject of this design study. Implementation of principles of sustainability will be essential to the final design solution. Quality, meaningful design must be more than functional and beautiful, it must also be a solution native to its context. To achieve this end an in depth analysis of the cultural, economic, and environmental systems is essential. This project will seek to define a notion of progress specific for the community of Cannonball and achieve that notion through effective design.

A New American High School, Rachel M. Riopel

Architecture Theses

This project is about the design of a secondary school for the community of Farmington, Minnesota and Independent School District 192. The site chosen for this project is near the current school placement so as to share existing amenities reducing impact on the site. As the population of Farmington is on the rise, the need for a secondary school is imminent. This thesis is a response to the challenge of meeting high standards of education with a building that successfully responds to the need for a healthy and supportive environment for its students and staff. The intention is to design …

Images Of God: The Effect Of Personal Theologies On Moral Attitudes, Political Affiliation, And Religious Behavior, Christoper Bader, Paul Froese

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

Social scientists often explain religious effects in terms of religious group affiliations. Typically, researchers identify religious groups by denomination or some broader popular categorization, such as “fundamentalist” or “evangelical.” To capture religious differences more effectively, Steensland et al. (2000) propose an intricate classification of American denominations that takes into account the theology and historical development of various American religious traditions to predict individual attitudes and behaviors. We believe that equal care and attention should be devoted to the development of key measures of belief that may cross denominational lines. In this article, we propose one such measure: personal conceptions or …

Shared Experience Building Around The Family Crucible Of Cancer, W. David Robinson, Jason S. Carroll, Wendy L. Watson

Faculty Publications

This study was designed to gain a greater understanding of the effects cancer has on families while simultaneously developing family therapy interventions that are helpful for families experiencing the crucible of cancer. On the basis of an action research paradigm, the authors designed an intensive case-analysis protocol involving reflective interviewing to learn about the personal perspectives of family members who participate in therapeutic treatment for cancer. An integration of reflective insight by the families, their therapist, and the research team ultimately revealed that cancer families face an ongoing struggle (a) between feelings of isolation and connectedness, (b) to make meaning …

A Unified Design Framework For Learning Objects And Educational Discourse, David Wiley, Sandie Waters

Faculty Publications

Instructional design is largely a matter of scope and sequence, and designing instruction with learning objections is no exception. Traditionally, learning objects are considered atomic units of educational content, and designing instruction with learning objects means scoping instructional messages and determining sequences for delivering the messages. We argue that instructional methods that rely heavily on social interaction can be implemented with learning objects when these are understood to be reusable scaffolds for scoping and sequencing what learners say to each other during instructional interactions.

Five Powerful Practices For Using Technology To Enhance Teaching And Learning In Higher Education, Charles R. Graham, Richard E. West

Faculty Publications

This presentation reports the findings from our investigation of the professors designated as the most innovative users of technology at our university. After seeking nominations from department heads, we selected thirty-five of the most successful and innovative professors as case studies. After interviewing these cases, and in some instances observing their classes, we identified five major patterns that represented the positive impacts technology was having on their instruction. These patterns were evident in several cases across many different disciplines, indicating they might be generalizable to many different situations and contexts. In our interviews, we identified what technologies these professors were …