Digital Commons Network^™

The Status Of Statewide Subscription Databases, Karla Steege Krueger

Curriculum & Instruction Faculty Publications

This qualitative content analysis presents subscription databases available to school libraries through statewide purchases. The results may help school librarians evaluate grade and subject-area coverage, make comparisons to recommended databases, and note potential suggestions for their states to include in future contracts or for local purchase. All states had similar periodicals‘ indexing vendors; therefore, this study‘s focus was online subject reference databases. Results portrayed seventy-nine unique databases across thirty-three states analyzed. Most states studied (81 percent) had a wide variety of online reference subject content; twenty states (61 percent) included one or more general reference databases; seven states with no …

Lifting The Veil Of Secrecy: Judicial Review Of Administrative Detentions In The Israeli Supreme Court, Shiri Krebs

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

All around the world, hundreds of individuals are constantly subjected to administrative detentions designed to prevent them from committing future atrocities. Generally, the main protection against arbitrary and unjustified administrative detentions is judicial review. Nonetheless, judicial review of administrative detention proceedings suffers from inherent difficulties and is typically based on ex parte proceedings and secret evidence. In spite of these difficulties and based on a few renowned cases, it is widely accepted in the scholarly debates that the Israeli judicial review model is robust and effective. Therefore, prominent international law scholars often recommend the adoption of this model in various …

Imagining The Homeland From Afar: Community And Peoplehood In The Age Of The Diaspora, Adeno Addis

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Diasporas--understood as groups of individuals or communities who carry an image of a homeland that is separate from the host land in which they reside--have always been with us. As long as there have been large movements of people across boundaries, be it voluntary or involuntary, there have been diasporas. The image of the homeland that diasporas carry could be real (an existing country) or imagined (a future country). In whatever way diasporas imagine the homeland, they have often attempted to act as if they belong to "we the people" of the homeland. They imagine themselves to be "outside the …

A Chink In The Armor: How A Uniform Approach To Proportionality Analysis Can End The Use Of Human Shields, Margaret T. Artz

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The appropriate response to human shields is a recurring issue in modern warfare. Technological asymmetry, disparate obligations, and doctrinal divergence between state and nonstate adversaries combine to make civilians account for 84 percent of combat deaths. Just as a slot machine entices a gambler though he rarely wins, the international community's inconsistent response to human shields has placed shield users on an intermittent reinforcement schedule, thereby ensuring that this tactic remains part of insurgent strategy. Long-term protection of civilians requires eliminating this tactic. Principles of behavior science indicate that an effective way to do so is to uniformly remove its …

Virtual Witness Confrontation In Criminal Cases, Yvonne M. Dutton

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Maritime piracy is a serious problem, yet states are not prosecuting captured pirates with any regularity. One of the many reasons cited to explain this phenomenon focuses on the expense and difficulty of mounting cases of such international proportions and which involve evidence, suspects, victims, and witnesses from around the globe. In an effort to help close the impunity gap that surrounds piracy, this Article offers a potential solution to the difficulties associated with obtaining live witness testimony. It proposes a rule to allow witnesses under some circumstances to testify remotely by way of two-way, live videoconferencing technology. While remote …

Cooperation As A Service In Vanet: Implementation And Simulation Results, Hajar Mousannif, Ismail Khalil, Stephan Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

The past decade has witnessed the emergence of Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (VANET), specializing from the well-known Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) to Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) wireless communications. While the original motivation for Vehicular Networks was to promote traffic safety, recently it has become increasingly obvious that Vehicular Networks open new vistas for Internet access, providing weather or road condition, parking availability, distributed gaming, and advertisement. In previous papers [27,28], we introduced Cooperation as a Service (CaaS); a new service-oriented solution which enables improved and new services for the road users and an optimized use of the road network …

Demographic Prediction Of Mobile User From Phone Usage, Shahram Mohrehkesh, Shuiwang Ji, Tamer Nadeem, Michele C. Weigle

Computer Science Faculty Publications

In this paper, we describe how we use the mobile phone usage of users to predict their demographic attributes. Using call log, visited GSM cells information, visited Bluetooth devices, visited Wireless LAN devices, accelerometer data, and so on, we predict the gender, age, marital status, job and number of people in household of users. The accuracy of developed classifiers for these classification problems ranges from 45-87% depending upon the particular classification problem.

In-House Counsel Beware!, Katrice Bridges Copeland

Faculty Scholarship

This Article argues that the prosecution of Lauren Stevens for covering up the alleged crimes of GSK was misguided both as a matter of law and a matter of policy. In particular, this Article contends that the government should not prosecute attorneys for obstruction of justice or other cover-up crimes for actions taken in good faith during a government investigation into a client's conduct. Part I provides background on the Lauren Stevens case and the convergence of the four prosecution trends that led the government to indict her. Part II argues that Lauren Stevens did not obstruct the government's investigation …

Users' Perceptions Regarding Networking And Resource Sharing In Selected Academic Libraries Of Bangladesh, Abul Kalam Siddike

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Across the disciplines, technology is spawning brand new carries in even as it changes in the way we performed old ones. Standing at the edge of 21^st century probably there is no dispute over the recognition of technologies in information activities. Unprecedented changes in the use of information are reshaping our personal activities, our community and organizational practices. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) bring the global information to our finger end. With the emergence of Internet, information kept in different locations has become asset of the world community bringing –almost every day in equal platform. To control over the …

Effect Of Video On The Teaching Of Library Studies Among Undergraduates In Adeyemi College Of Education, Ondo, J. Ayodeji Akerele, Adeola F. Afolabi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Teaching makes acquisition of knowledge and skills possible through systematic interaction between teachers and learners. It happens everyday and involves teacher, learner, methodology and materials interaction. Part of these materials are known as instructional resources.

The use of instructional materials in teaching process provide the basis for improved teaching and learning of a subject. They are designed, produced and use to achieve specific instructional goal. Ayinde (1997) opined that an intelligent use of audio-visual aids will save time and stimulate students’ interest. It increase the retention of knowledge and stimulate understanding and attitude. They help students to recognize a problem. …

Use Of E-Resources By Life Scientists: A Case Study Of Sambalpur University, India, Bipin Bihari Sethi, K. C. Panda

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

E-resources in collaboration with Internet have become a sign of modern age being an invaluable tool for teaching, learning, and research. The library and information landscape has transformed with the onset of the digital era and today traditional libraries have changed their roles to serve as ‘Knowledge Centers’ with priority on value added electronic information services. Academic and research institutions are focusing on how best they can facilitate research by canalizing specific information services which compliment as cutting-edge technology. With the advent of globalization in the realm of education, there has been an information explosion. Most of the science and …

Use Of Multimedia For Teaching In Nigerian University System: A Case Study Of University Of Ibadan, A.B. Oshinaike, S.R. Adekunmisi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The use of multimedia in industries has been extensive, as it has been effective in increasing productivity and retention rates, where research has shown that people remember 20% of what they see, 40% of what they see and hear, but about 75% of what they see and hear and do simultaneously (Lindstrom, 1994). Multimedia is now permeating the educational system as a tool for effective teaching and learning. With multimedia, the communication of information can be done in a more effective manner and it can be an effective instructional medium for delivering information.

Multimedia access to knowledge is one of …

The Identity Crisis Of Libraries In The Attention Economy, Nishat Kazi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In the present day world, the ecology that the human beings inhabit is laden with various kinds of spaces and places. Our ecology encompasses different kinds of cyberspaces and market places that continuously sway our mind. This character of continuously influencing and controlling the human psyche according to Herbert Simon makes our economy an ‘attention economy’. The concept of ‘attention economy’ revolves around the innumerable existing spaces and places and the human attention. Attention Economy is considered to be one where there is scarcity of human attention. Davenport & Beck defines attention as, “focused mental engagement on a particular message …

Knowledge Economy From The Pakistani Perspective, Ikramul Haq, Pervaiz Ahmad

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Business Dictionary (2010) defines knowledge economy as:

“Economy based on creating, evaluating, and trading knowledge. In a knowledge economy, labour costs become progressively less important and traditional economic concepts such as scarcity resources and economics of scale cease to apply”.

World Bank (2008) document states regarding knowledge economy,

“For countries in the vanguard of the world economy, the balance between knowledge and resources has shifted so far towards the former that knowledge has become perhaps the most important factor determining the standard of living – more than land, than tools, than labour. Today’s most technically advanced economies are truly knowledge …

Can Professional Development Improve Teachers’ Perceptions About Inclusive Teaching In An Inner City School, Solomon Homidas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation examined the question of whether professional development can improve teachers’ perceptions of inclusive teaching in an inner city school. The study drew upon survey methods to collect measurements of teachers' perceptions about inclusive teaching before and after professional development sessions. The hypothesis was that exposure to professional development would give teachers an improved impression of inclusive teaching, which in turn could make them more committed to the inclusive teaching paradigm. If the hypothesis was correct, the study would show that professional development should be considered an important component of developing teachers who work in inclusive settings, especially …

The Effect Of Principal Leadership On New Teacher Retention Rates, James A. Avila

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide increased knowledge of the effect of principal leadership on new teacher retention. When compared to other mobility rates, the new teacher attrition rate is higher; new teachers leave the school systems at faster rates than they can be replaced (Darling-Hammond & Sykes, 2003; Ingersoll & Smith, 2003; “NEA Study,” 2005; “Support new teachers and keep them teaching,” 2005; Watkins, 2005). The failure to retain new teachers often results in fewer quality teachers and poorer levels of instruction (Brown & Wynn, 2009). This study speculates that principal leadership, specifically instructional leadership, directly affects new …

Employers’ Expectations Of Library Education In Nigeria, Adam Gambo Saleh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Library Education in Nigeria was very much tied up with the general social and political history of the Country. As such, those who aspired to become librarians went to Britain to qualify for the Associate of the Library Association (ALA). However, with the attainment of independence in 1960, the country witnessed the establishment of educational institutions at various levels. The first Library school was established at University College Ibadan in 1960.

Prior to 1960, the Carnegie Corporation has sponsored two studies (Margaret Wrong in 1939 and Ethel Fagan in 1940) to survey the Library needs of West Africa with the …

Teaching Independent Living Skills To Moderately And Severely Disabled Students, Jennifer Jordan

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study examined the use of picture reading to teach independent living skills to students with moderate to severe disabilities. The purpose of this research was to test the hypothesis that picture reading would increase independence in employability and daily living skills. The primary investigator decided to use pictures as visual supports to determine if students could follow directions in sequential order to make a sandwich and wash dishes. Six students from an inner-city school receiving special education services in a self-contained setting participated in this research. Research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach consisting of qualitative and quantitative research. …

Students’ Perceptions Of Bullying And The Impact Of Lessons On Pro-Social Behaviors And Bullying Prevention, Jia Borror

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to increase fifth-grade students’ perceptions and knowledge of bullying, adult assistance, and bystander behaviors. The researcher developed a survey to assess students’ perceptions and knowledge of bullying prior to 3 months of interventions, which included lessons and activities on pro-social behaviors and bullying prevention. The goals of the intervention were to increase knowledge of bullying, enhance students’ interpersonal skills through character education, and increase the seeking of adult assistance and bystander responses. The research site was an urban, public elementary school in southeast Florida. The study focused on the following research questions:

1. What …

Perceptions Of Secondary Teachers And Administrators About Coteaching, Brenda Brie Cederna

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Educating students with disabilities in the general education classroom continues to increase as districts are mandated to meet federal requirements. The use of coteaching to support students in the general education classroom is on the rise. By having a content area teacher and a special education teacher share classroom responsibilities, students gain access to the general education curriculum while continuing to receive services and supports to meet their individual needs. This qualitative study allowed the researcher to gather information directly from the teachers and administrators who were responsible for the implementation of the coteaching model at one high school in …

Effects Of A Middle Grade Family-School Partnership Program At A Southeastern Charter School, Fayette Nick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a middle grade family-school partnership program at a southeastern charter school that served students in kindergarten through Grade 12. In 2009, the state charter school advisory board surveyed parents of students in kindergarten through Grade 8 and found that parental involvement decreased drastically after Grade 5. The state board advised the school to develop a plan of action to increase parental involvement in Grades 6 through 8. It was decided to implement a family-school partnership program in the middle grades. The program was guided by Lueder’s (2011) self-renewing partnership …

An Elementary-To-Middle School Transitional Program And Its Effect On Student Behavior, Kyle Sheer

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The transition from elementary to middle school has proven to be difficult for all stakeholders. Reports of increased discipline infractions and truancy, combined with a noticeable drop in overall student achievement, have resulted in numerous attempts to ease the anxieties and frustrations that are characteristic of this transition. Schools often establish transitional programs to prepare incoming middle school students with the skills needed to be successful in a new educational environment. Transitional programs are often very expensive to operate and require an extensive amount of planning. This program evaluation considered 1 specific transitional program that took place during the summer …

Assessing The Effect Of Mentoring On First-Semester Associate-Degree Nursing Students, Arlene Walker-Adams

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This research study assessed the perceptions of first-semester nursing students about mentoring. The first purpose of the study was to describe the perceptions of first-semester nursing students in an associate-degree nursing program about mentoring. The second purpose was to ascertain the students‟ perceived values of mentorship as a strategy to support their learning and promote retention.

The sample population consisted of 10 first-semester nursing students who participated as mentees. The researcher utilized a qualitative methodology to assess the perceptions of first-semester nursing students. The researcher used three instruments to collect the data: focus groups, individual interviews, and a demographic questionnaire. …

Coping Behaviour As An Adaptation To Stress: Post-Disturbance Preening In Colonial Seabirds, Shandelle M. Henson, Lynelle M. Weldon, James L. Hayward, Daniel Greene, Libby C. Megna, Maureen C. Serem

Faculty Publications

In humans, coping behaviour is an action taken to soothe oneself during or after a stressful or threatening situation. Some human behaviours with physiological functions also serve as coping behaviours, for example, comfort sucking in infants and comfort eating in adults. In birds, the behaviour of preening, which has important physiological functions, has been postulated to soothe individuals after stressful situations. We combine two existing modelling approaches – logistic regression and Darwinian dynamics – to explore theoretically how a behaviour with crucial physiological function might evolve into a coping behaviour. We apply the method to preening in colonial seabirds to …

The Effects Of A Mentoring Program On Minority Student Science Achievement, William J. Belle

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to test the theory that a comprehensive science mentoring program would help low income, minority, and other at-risk students improve their attitudes toward science and their test performance in science in Grade 5. The study research questions focused on (a) How did mentoring improve achievement in science? (b) What evidence illustrated whether those students mentored in science showed improvement in perceptions or experiences? (c) How did the students’ attitudes and appreciation change by the end of the mentoring program?

The researcher used an experimental research design for a single group. The design included pretest-posttest. Participants …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of A School-Wide Discipline Program For African American Male Students, Sterling A. White Jr.

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-wide discipline program in lowering referrals and suspensions of African American male students in Grades 3-5 in an urban elementary school in southeastern United States. The student body was 99% African American (48% African American male), and 82% of the student body received free or reduced-priced breakfast and lunch through the district’s nutrition program. At the time of this study, the school served 560 students in prekindergarten through Grade 5. The school-wide discipline program, Consistency Management and Cooperative Discipline (CMCD) focused on five themes: (a) prevention, (b) caring, …

Strategic Communication Games: Theory And Applications, Shintaro Miura

All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs)

The dissertation consists of the three essays about strategic communication games. Strategic communication games are costless sender-receiver games, and address the question of how much information can be credibly transmitted in equilibrium, and what kind of communication environments facilitate information transmission. Ch. 2, “Multidimensional Cheap Talk with Sequential Messages,” considers a multidimensional cheap talk game where there are two senders who share the private information, and send a message to the receiver sequentially. We suggest a notion of extended self-serving belief, and show that there exists a fully revealing equilibrium if and only if the senders have opposing-biased preferences. Ch. …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Student Life Skills Courses In The Social And Academic Integration Of Community College Students, Lourdes M. Perez

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to determine if Student Life Skills (SLS) courses impact the social and academic integration of community college students. Additionally, due to the unique demographics of the student population of the research setting, this study also examined if factors such as native language, income and employment workload impact the social and/or academic integration of students enrolled in a community college.

The writer developed an instrument using the Institution Integration Scale (IIS) consisting of 30 items constructed to assess the dimensions of academic and social integration. The instrument requires respondents to indicate their involvement with faculty, staff, …

Alignment Of Academic Preparation And Job Skills: A Health Promotion Case Study, Michael P. Mcneil

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to describe the alignment or misalignment between the essential and preferred competencies at the Director-level outlined in the American College Health Association’s (ACHA) Guidelines for Hiring Health Promotion Professionals in Higher Education and the graduate-level course learning objectives in a single site case study. The study used a document review methodology with an evaluative matrix to demonstrate the connections between the ACHA Hiring Guidelines and learning objectives from the study site graduate courses. Additionally, the researcher utilized experts to describe the potential need for a concentrated program of study addressing health promotion in higher education. …

An Intervention Designed To Increase Student Perseverance In An Undergraduate Teacher Education Environment, Heather Hansen

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide additional support services to online undergraduate teacher education students. The students who were enrolled in EDUC 2500 Pre-Enrollment Seminar did not have a supportive learning environment previously. This study was conducted to determine whether adding a mentoring and supportive learning environment leads to student persistence in the course. This research shows that mentoring and supportive learning environments lead to increased graduation rates for the university in the teacher education program and qualified teachers in the school districts if students persist in the first semester online course.

The course assessment survey was sent to …