Digital Commons Network^™

Administrative Mentoring: An Investigation Of Practicing Principals' Perceptions Of The Role Mentors Played In Their Professional Development And Job Satisfaction, Lisa M. Remy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Researchers have alluded to the power of mentorship to connect the new administrator to the organization. Following the lead of business, the field of education is now recognizing mentoring as a critical component of effective leadership development. Daresh (2001) suggests there is a need for a more practical and effective approach to prepare the leaders of our schools. New administrators have little choice but to experience on-the-job training, without any formal support in place. Administrative mentoring programs are growing in attention due to the projected principal shortages, concerns about qualified candidates, and the changing role of the building level principal. …

The Relationship Between Cardiovascular Fitness And Risk Factors Of Type 2 Diabetes In Adults, La Toshia Burrell

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Obesity and overweight populations have increased dramatically in the last two decades in the United States causing a significant increase in the number of adults with type 2 diabetes. This alarming increase has become an important public health problem due to the associated diseases and health risks. As a result, there have been several programs developed specifically to help prevent or decrease the complications of type 2 diabetes. Physical fitness is an important component of many behavior modification programs. Research studies have conclusively shown beneficial effects of regular activity for disease risk reduction. However, many studies have examined associations between …

Master Of Music Degree Recital, Bonnie Eve Alger

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In partial fulfillment of the degree Master of Music, Bonnie Alger presented a conducting recital with members of the Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra. The recital took place on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 8 p.m. in Davis Hall of the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus. The program included works by Mozart, Rodrigo, and Wagner, and represented three of the major stylistic periods in classical music (Classic, Romantic, and Twentieth Century). First-year graduate student Sarah Duvel, mezzo-soprano, was a featured soloist on the second work.

Baseball As Family: Successful High School Coaches’ Perceptions On Effective Communication, Aaron Barber

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study focuses on what successful high school baseball coaches think they do to communicate effectively. Interviews were used to find emerging themes and to gain anecdotal insight as to how coaches communicate in particular situations. Through the analysis of the interviews, the themes of family, leadership, credibility, identity and organization became apparent in all coaches interviewed. Each coach applied these themes using their own unique style of communication. Understanding and reflecting upon this qualitative study will provide useful insight for leaders of all types and are not limited to only coaches.

Control Of Myosin Motor Activity And Actin Filament Translation By Alteration Of Assay Reducing Potential, Siva Krishna Nalabotu

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The use of biomolecular motors for nanotechnological applications has been impaired by an inability to control biomolecular motor activity in a temporal fashion. Previous data has suggested that myosin activity can be modulated by inducing changes in the degree of myosin oxidation. The hypothesis of this study is that myosin motor activity can be regulated by altering the amount of antioxidants and reducing agents present in assay solution. To test this hypothesis we systematically altered the concentration of reducing agents and examined the effects of these changes on myosin-dependent actin filament translation. Our findings indicate that myosin activity can be …

Positions Of Power, Abjection And Constraint: Evaluating Discursive Attempts To Save An Other, Ruth Janet Beerman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Beginning from the presumption that questions of agency are important, this thesis interrogates notions of who can speak, how to speak, and what constitutes agency. Feminist rhetorical theory operates as a key avenue to evaluate negotiating positions of power and privilege when examining how to liberate oppressed groups. By utilizing feminist conceptions of the body as well as theories of performance and personae, I examine how rhetorical theory contributes to such understandings where one speaks about an other. Finally, the war in Iraq serves as a case study to illustrate my theory.

A Test Of Ajzen’S Theory Of Planned Behavior: Predicting Students’ Intentions Toward Joining An Army Rotc Program, Jason Hornberg

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Young adults' expressed interest toward joining The Unites States Armed Forces has been decreasing since the 1990's. This downward trend has negatively influenced the recruitment of enlisted soldiers into the military as well as the enrollment of young adults into officer production programs like the Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC). In an attempt to understand and overcome the effects of this trend, behavioral scientists have begun using behavioral theories to predict young adults' intention toward joining the military. One theory that has been frequently used to predict intention and behavior is Ajzen's theory of planned behavior. Ajzen' s theory of …

Gorenstein Flat Dimension Of Complexes, Alina Iacob

Mathematical Sciences: Faculty Publications

We define a notion of Gorenstein flat dimension for unbounded complexes over left GF-closed rings. Over Gorenstein rings we introduce a notion of Gorenstein cohomology for complexes; we also define a generalized Tate cohomology for complexes over Gorenstein rings, and we show that there is a close connection between the absolute, the Gorenstein and the generalized Tate cohomology.

Institutional Racism And Public Policy : A Critical Discourse Analysis Of The War On Drugs, Kyle L. Mahannah

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Through reviewing the concept of institutional racism, I examine how this concept has been employed in the discourse on the war on drug. Moreover, I explore how this term has been employed by opponents and proponents on the war on drugs. First, I explore how the term 'institutional racism' is defined by various authors and scholars. I then reviewed how the United State Supreme Court has set precedents regarding intentional and unintentional discrimination. I also investigate how the concept of institutional racism is used in the discourse on American institutions of education, economics, law, and politics. l then review how …

Investigating The Potential Contributors To Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Stress, Emotional Dysregulation, And Alexithymia, Kelly K. Espenschade

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Research has investigated perceived stress, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), emotional dysregulation, and alexithymia independently. However, there have been no studies to date that have simultaneously examined the relationship among all these variables. The purpose of this study was to examine these variables among those who had or had not engaged in NSSI. Five hundred seventy-seven college students completed self report measures of non-suicidal self-injury, perceived stress level, emotional dysregulation, and alexithymia. As hypothesized, those who had engaged in self-harm behaviors reported higher levels of perceived stress, emotional dysregulation, and alexithymia. There were no gender differences except on perceived stress levels, where …

Social Support And Work-School Conflict: A Daily Study, Eric John Faurote

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The goal of this study was to examine within-person associations between work-school conflict (WSC), social support at work, job satisfaction, and negative affect. There were 108 undergraduates for a Midwest university that participated in this study. Greater WSC was associated with decreased job satisfaction and increased negative affect (NA). Social support buffered the relationship between WSC and job satisfaction such that individuals with low social support experienced a decrease in job satisfaction when WSC was high, but they did not experience this decrease with social support was high. Greater social support from co-workers was associated with increased job satisfaction and …

The Writer-Of-Violence-As-School-Shooter Stereotype: How Columbine, Virginia Tech, And Public Fear Make Writing Violence Dangerous For Students, Matt Foy

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In a period when students, parents, teachers and administrators are bombarded with images related to school shooting attacks, efforts to prevent such attacks in the future and to identify students who pose a threat to school safety have intensified. These efforts to fight the seemingly mounting wave of school violence have contributed to the rise of stereotypes of what a school shooter looks, talks, and acts like. This study examines one of these stereotypes: the writer-of-violence-as-school-shooter stereotype. This stereotype, which gained attention after 1990s rampages such as those at Heath High School (Kentucky) and Columbine High School and became highly …

Functional Stability Of Transfemoral Amputee Gait Using The 3r80 And Total Knee 2000 Prosthetic Knee Units, M. Barbara Silver-Thorn, Christine L. Glaister

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Prosthetic knee designs have become extremely sophisticated compared to early constant friction single axis mechanisms. Today, prosthetists and physicians have a wide variety of components to choose from for their transfemoral amputee patients. Unfortunately, there are little quantitative data comparing the performance of different types of prosthetic components, and prosthetic prescription is often based on empirical knowledge and experience, rather than objective comparison of prosthetic designs. This study used gait analysis to objectively evaluate the stability characteristics of two types of prosthetic knee designs, the polycentric Total Knee 2000 (Ossur, Aliso Viejo, CA) and the single axis 3R80 stance control …

Review Of College And University Archives: Readings In Theory And Practice By Christopher J. Prom And Ellen D. Swain, W. Bede Mitchell

University Libraries: Faculty Publications

This review was published in College and Research Libraries.

Creating Win-Win Partnerships And Adding Relevance To Educator Preparation, Michelle Abrego, Bobbette M. Morgan, Jesus Abrego

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

The authors describe a partnership between two departments, in a school of education that involves educational leadership and curriculum and instruction graduate students sharing their expertise of teaching and learning with student teachers and alternatively certified teacher interns. This project provides graduate students with active participation in delivering workshops to adult learners. The beginning teachers are the participants. Beginning teachers benefit from gaining hands-on experience and research-based instructional strategies to use in their classrooms. Researchers found this activity increased the graduate students’ sensitivity to the needs of beginning teachers. Over 1300 student teachers and alternative certification interns and approximately 530 …

Honors @ Georgia Southern, University Honors Program Students And Staff, Georgia Southern University

Honors College: News & Publications (2008-2020)

• STAND Combats Genocide
• 2008 Voter Registration Project
• Alternative Spring Break : Northern Ireland
• Honors in Action
• Alumni Notes

Editor's Comment, Alan Altany

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

No abstract provided.

A Personal Reflection On The 2008 Issotl Conference, Laura Regassa

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Excerpt: The 5th International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) Conference was held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in October 2008. The theme of the conference was “Celebrating Connections: Learning, Teaching, Scholarship". The conference offered a myriad of opportunities for learning, growing and making connections with four days of keynote speakers, concurrent sessions and poster presentations.

Beyond Lines On The Cv: Faculty Applications Of Their Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning Research, Kathleen Mckinney, Pat Jarvis

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This paper reports on a study focusing on a key issue in the field of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). The goal of our research was to examine the frequency, types, supports, and barriers for the practical application of SoTL results. In this paper we report on quantitative and qualitative results from a study assessing the level and forms of concrete applications of SoTL to improve teaching and learning. We obtained data from a self-administered questionnaire and a focus group with respondents drawn from 20 faculty/staff recipients of internal SoTL grants at a large Midwestern university as well …

Academic Skill Development - Inquiry Seminars Can Make A Difference: Evidence From A Quasi-Experimental Study, Christopher Justice, Wayne Warry, James Rice

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This paper examines whether a single first-year inquiry-based seminar can have a lasting impact on students’ academic skills. Fifty-four Inquiry students and 71 comparable students participated in three performance tests: a research skills exercise; an evaluation of oral presentation ability; and a test of critical reasoning and teamwork skills. In addition, participants completed a questionnaire focusing on learning approaches and experiences. The study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring long-term effects of relatively small educational interventions. Findings indicate that although universities may not be developing the skills they assume, a single first-year inquiry seminar can have far reaching effects on academic …

Online Course Design: A Case Study, Sharon Dole, Lisa Bloom

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This case study uses the How People Learn (HPL) framework as the conceptual model to examine an online course in a teacher licensure program for evidence of high level learning outcomes that involve collaboration, reflection, mentoring, and problem solving. The HPL framework focuses on the learning environment and indicates that effective learning takes place to the extent that the learning environment is learner-centered, knowledge-centered, assessment-centered, and community-centered. Analysis of the data resulted in themes that coincide with the elements of the HPL framework: professional growth, peer learning, teaching presence, and collaboration. The design of the course appeared to have a …

“All Work And No Play” Reconsidered: The Use Of Games To Promote Motivation And Engagement In Instruction, Stephen Gareau, Ruth Guo

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This study examined the role of games in graduate-level instructional technology courses, where the curriculum includes complex abstract theory and hands-on, practical skills. A qualitative approach was used in the study, relying on classroom observations of student behavior (recorded by digital photographs), informal student verbal comments, formal written feedback, and analysis of student game projects, as sources of data. Participants had the opportunity to serve in one or both roles of ‘educational game player’ and ‘educational game designer’. Issues involved in adapting existing games to classroom use are also discussed. Study findings reveal that games can be very useful in …

Click Or Clique? Using Educational Technology To Address Students’ Anxieties About Peer Evaluation, Ruth Walker, Graham Barwell

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Peer bias is recognised as a primary factor in negative student perceptions of peer assessment strategies. This study trialled the use of classroom response systems, widely known as clickers, in small seminar classes in order to actively engage students in their subject’s assessment process while providing the anonymity that would lessen the impact of peer pressure. Focus group reflection on the students’ impressions of the peer evaluation process, the use of clickers, and their anxieties about potential peer bias were analysed in the light of the results of teacher and class evaluations of each individual student presentation. The findings revealed …

Two Minute Training In Class Significantly Increases The Use Of Professional Formatting In Student To Faculty Email Correspondence, Nancy Aguilar-Roca, Adrienne Williams, R Warrior, Diane O’Dowd

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Many university faculty value email as an important tool for communicating with colleagues, but express frustration with a high incidence of unprofessional email correspondence from students. The goals of this study were to document the frequency of specific formatting mistakes that contribute to faculty’s unfavorable perception of student emails and to determine if training could reduce these errors. We analyzed emails from students to three instructors of different rank and gender co-teaching two sections of a large introductory biology class: one section received two minutes of basic email etiquette training, the second section served as the control. We report a …

Learning From Their Own Learning: How Metacognitive And Meta-Affective Reflections Enhance Learning In Race-Related Courses, Nancy L. Chick, Terri Karis, Cyndi Kernahan

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This interdisciplinary project examined how students think and feel about their learning in race-related diversity courses. Students in four classes (literature, psychology, geography) reflected on cognitive and affective dimensions of their own and their classmates’ learning. The Color Blind Racial Attitudes Scales (CoBRAS) confirmed qualitative analyses of learning patterns in three of the classes that resulted in moving from lack of awareness about racism to increased understanding and in the fourth class that lacked this movement. Findings include what helped students learn, cognitive and affective obstacles to learning, and the benefit of exposing students to multiple perspectives, empathy-enhancing activities, and …

Service Learning In A Non-Majors Biology Course Promotes Changes In Students’ Attitudes And Values About The Environment, Alissa Packer

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

I was interested in whether the inclusion of a service-learning experience would affect students’ attitudes and values about the environment. To investigate this question, I incorporated a service-learning project into the laboratory portion of one of the two sections of my non-majors biology course, and kept the lecture portions of the course identical. Several methods were used to assess the impact of the service-learning experience: the New Ecological Paradigm survey was used to measure changes in students’ attitudes and values about the environment at the beginning and end of the semester, and reflective writing assignments were used throughout the semester …

How Do Management Students Prefer To Learn? Why Should We Care?, Ednilson Bernardes, Mark Hanna

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This paper reports the findings of a study of the learning styles of students in the operations management class at a regional comprehensive university in southeastern United States. Extant learning styles are found to be highly diverse and differ by student gender. However, in contrast to at least one prior study, the learning styles of our respondents did not differ by student major. Five areas of opportunity for future research arising from the results of this study are identified in the paper’s conclusion.

Assessing Student Learning And Perceptions In An Upper-Level General Education Requirement Argumentation Course, Kathryn Olson

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This project addressed the difficulties of teaching argument skills, a staple of liberal education, to a mixture of Communication majors and non-majors taking the course for General Education Requirement (GER) credit. The design uses independent instructor comparison of students’ pre- and post-test performances, students’ comparative self-evaluation of their pre- and post-test performances, as well as students’ reflections on their learning in response to a separate questionnaire and independent instructor assessment of their performance in arguing those reflective claims, to analyze learning processes in an upper-level argumentation course. The results include specific content concepts and course and instructor strategies that both …

(Re)Considering The Scholarship Of Learning: Inviting The Elephant In The Room To Tea, Ashlee Cunsolo Willox, Dale Lackeyram

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This essay argues that the SoT(L) field has mistakenly equated learning solely to teaching and the teaching classroom, and has systematically ignored the other moments and opportunities within higher education institutes where learning and scholarly learning occurs—particularly within academic support and development programming. Therefore, we endeavour to discuss what we see as the elephant in the SoT(L) living room—learning, scholarly learning, and the Scholarship of Learning—and examine the ways in which learning and the Scholarship of Learning can be brought back into the SoT(L) discussion through an examination of academic support and development programming. Through the creation of a new …

Continuing Professional Development In Higher Education: The Role Of The Scholarship Of Teaching And Learning, Lewis Elton

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Excerpt: There have been two recent developments in the area of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: a recognition of the importance of the continuing development of academics in teaching and learning (CPD in HE) and the possible role in this development of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). This essay aims to provide appropriate links between the two.