Digital Commons Network^™

Incorporating Digital Storytelling In The English Language Class For Korean University Students, Hyun Il Choi

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this project is to suggest practical ways to incorporate digital storytelling in the English classroom at the university level. To be specific, this project provides curriculum which includes set of practical activities and free digital media resources teachers can adapt. Using such devices for learning in a classroom will increase the students’ motivation for learning (Hagood & Skinner, 2008; Reinders, 2011). Each activity and lesson is focused on students being able to create their own digital story. Student will select a topic for their digital story and each lesson outlines how to develop the story using a …

Adult Learners In The Library–Are They Being Served?, Makiba Foster, Kristine Helbling

WashU Libraries Publications

Like many academic librarians, after completing the marathon of the traditional school year, we often use the summer semester to reflect, revise, and plan for the upcoming fall. In the summer of 2012, during a casual conversation in which we shared stories about rewarding reference interactions, we stumbled upon an “aha moment,” discovering an opportunity to connect targeted library outreach with an underserved user group. During this exchange, we realized how much we both enjoy working with adult learners and how they always seem genuinely interested in gaining skills to make themselves better library users, and therefore better students. This …

Teaching English In Saudi Arabia Through The Use Of Multimedia, Linah A. Sofi

Master's Projects and Capstones

The purpose of this project is to design model lesson plans which will require the use of available modern technology and movies, songs and graphic novels, etc, to enhance students’ communicative competence and motivate critical thinking. In fact, The project will be constructed to implement the use of technology in the Saudi Arabian traditional classrooms. It will serve as a model for teachers to build their own lesson plans accordingly, using a communicative language teaching approach. Finally, it is hoped that with this handbook, Saudi Arabian English language learners will develop critical thinking skills and enhance higher communicative competence in …

An Open Source Advertisement Server, Pushkar Umaranikar

Master's Projects

This report describes a new online advertisement system and its implementation for the Yioop open source search engine. This system was implemented for my CS298 project. It supports both selling advertisements and displaying them within search results. The selling of advertisement is done using a novel auction system, which we describe in this paper. With this auction system, it is possible to create an advertisement, attach keywords to it, and add it to the advertisement inventory. An advertisement is displayed on a search results page if the search keyword matches the keywords attached to the advertisement. Display of advertisements is …

Effective Techniques For Teaching Phrasal Verbs To Improve Communicate Competence Of Chinese English Learners, Guohua Fu

Master's Projects and Capstones

Effective Techniques for Teaching Phrasal Verbs to Improve Communicate Competence of Chinese English learners

Strategies To Reduce Foreign Language Anxiety In Adult Efl Students Of The European Union, Kathleen Hershner

Master's Projects and Capstones

One of paradoxes in adult foreign language learning is that older learners must communicate in the very language, in this case English, they struggle to acquire. The discomfort that arises from needing to use deficient or non-existent skills in a new language is more acutely felt in adults than children. Adults approach learning new languages with an assumed level of control over themselves and their environment and can easily become frustrated when they're unable to maintain their usual levels of confidence and competence, which can lead to foreign language anxiety. FLA is a specific kind of anxiety defined as an …

Incorporating Online Materials And Digital Learning/Assessing Tools Into Advanced Chinese Newspaper Reading And News Watching, Ying Wang, Lisha Xu

Blended Learning in the Liberal Arts Conference

This is the report of a year-long blended learning project designed for advanced Chinese newspaper reading and news video watching. In advanced Chinese learning, newspaper reading and news video watching are considered quite challenging for Chinese language learners for their formal style, large and time-sensitive vocabulary, and limited exposure through traditional ways of learning/teaching. To meet these challenges, we incorporated three blended learning components into the traditional language teaching/learning, including: online video news subtitling, the digital exercises and assessment system, and computerized vocabulary-learning modules tailored to the course materials used for two advanced Chinese classes. The project is carried out …

Out With The Old, In With The New: Blended Learning In Elementary Italian, Bruno Grazioli, Jessica Egan, Maria Succi-Hempstead, Morena Svaldi

Blended Learning in the Liberal Arts Conference

Technology has provided unlimited potential for language learning. In this session four presenters will share their experience in creating an Elementary Italian Blended Course. We will share recent and innovative pedagogical, methodological and technological approaches. Participants will learn how to build a Blended Course and how to develop material to provide students with tailor-made resources to review, practice, and consolidate the instruction they receive in class. After briefly outlining the motivations for which an innovative Italian Blended Course in an Elementary Italian has been created, we will introduce the technique for a productive and rich collaboration among faculty. We’ll present …

Cross-Cultural Bridges : Closing The Gaps In Direct Services With Immigrant And Diverse Populations, Lucy Chen

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The shifting cultural, racial, ethnic, and linguistic makeup of the United States is expected to become more diverse in the coming decades. This has important implications for direct service professionals, including social workers and educators. An overview of culturally sensitive, responsive, and competent practices is provided for work with immigrant and diverse populations to assist professionals in the process of crossing cultural bridges, overcoming privilege, and building bridges.

Eight To Be Honored At Macalester Reunion In June, Macalester College

College Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Sound Effects: Age, Gender, And Sound Symbolism In American English, Timothy Allen Krause

Dissertations and Theses

This mixed-method study investigated the correlation of sound symbolic associations with age and gender by analyzing data from a national survey of 292 American English speakers. Subjects used 10 semantic differential scales to rate six artificial brand names that targeted five phonemes. Subjects also described the potential products they imagined these artificial brand names to represent. Quantitative analysis alone provided insufficient evidence to conclude that age or gender affect sound symbolism in American English. While 26 out of 60 scales showed a monotonic shift among the means of the three age groups, only three were statistically significant. The evidence of …

The Montclarion, May 20, 2015, The Montclarion

The Montclarion

Student Newspaper of Montclair State University

Textese As An Identifiable Genre, Christian Miemiec

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This study is focused on determining if textese (the acronyms, shortcuts, emoticons, etc., used in texting) is a definable genre. The study uses communication theory centered on understanding how people interact in the computer mediated communication space to manage and foster strong relationships and understand each other when there are little or no visual and verbal cues. Defining textese as a genre helps support social information processing as the study supports the position that textese can be used for close relationships. Using textese is shown to support social interactionism as textese is an indicator of how well people know each …

Strengthening Biblical Historicity Vis-A`-Vis Minimalism, 1992–2008 And Beyond. Part 2.3: Some Commonalities In Approaches To Writing Ancient Israel’S History, Lawrence J. Mykytiuk

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

This series of articles covers scholarly works in English which can, at least potentially, be associated with a generally positive view of biblical historicity regarding periods preceding the Israelites’ return from exile. Part 2 covers works that treat the methodological issues at the center of the maximalist–minimalist debate. Parts 2.1 and 2.2 selectively survey the works of 24 non-minimalist scholars during two decades. In the absence of consensus, this article analyzes the works in Parts 2.1 and 2.2, tracing elements of approach that are held in common, at least among pluralities of non-minimalists (possible majorities are not noted). The first …

Community Crime Mapping: Increasing Predictive Policing With Dynamic Symbol Sets, Michael Chaszczewski

Theses

Crime prevention is an important area of study in our society that plays an integral role in the lives of citizens and the local police who enlist the aid of strategic counter crime plans to tackle the urgency created everyday when crimes are committed. This mode of counter acting crime is termed “problem oriented policing” and is a policing approach where individual pieces of police data are critically examined with the hope that the findings learned will lead to discovering a new and more effective counter crime strategy. Crime mapping is one of these analyzed tools allowing officers to understand …

Task-Switching In Bilinguals: Further Investigation Of The Bilingual Advantage, Jennifer M. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has suggested that speaking more than one language may lead to benefits across a variety of different cognitive tasks (Bialystok, Craik, Green, & Gollan, 2009). This effect has been dubbed the Bilingual Advantage. It has been suggested that this advantage relates to more the development of greater efficiency with processes involved in task-switching. The current study used a task-switching task to investigate three of these processes: reconfiguration, monitoring, and inhibitory control processes.

Monolingual and bilingual participants were presented blocks of trials in which they had to either categorize words as either abstract or concrete, or pictures as human-made …

Effective Techniques For Teaching Phrasal Verbs To Improve The Communicative Competence Of Chinese English Learners, Guohua Fu

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project provides a teaching guidebook for both English as a Second Language (ESL) students and teachers. Most learners do not know how to use phrasal verbs in their daily conversation even if they have already learned them. Moreover, it is hard for students to remember phrasal verbs they learned if they don’t practice them in meaningful contexts. This project will address the problem of the ineffective instruction of English in China and the exclusion of two-word verbs from the Chinese curriculum. Due to the differences in linguistic and education backgrounds, ESL teachers and students desire a guidebook that is …

Effects Of Explicit Reading Comprehension Strategy Instruction For English Learners With Specific Learning Disabilities, Sara Lynn Jozwik

Theses and Dissertations

In this intervention study, I engaged principles of culturally responsive research to examine the effectiveness of explicit reading comprehension strategy instruction for English Learners (ELs) with specific learning disabilities (SLD). This study replicated and extended previous research (Jitendra, Hoppes, & Xin, 2000) by modifying instruction found to be effective for native English speakers (i.e., explicit reading comprehension strategy instruction with a self-monitoring procedure). Modifications included: (a) integrating culturally relevant text, (b) providing native language support, and (c) melding strategies from the fields of teaching English as a second language and special education. Through a co-teaching model, I provided instruction to …

From “Outsider” To “Bridge”: The Changing Role Of University Supervision In An Urban Teacher Residency Program, Wendy Gardiner, Janet Lorch

Faculty Publications

This qualitative research study investigated a faculty liaison (FL) model, an alternative to traditional field supervision implemented in an urban teacher residency (UTR) program. In the FL model, professors teaching in the UTR program were assigned to school sites rather than individual teacher candidates to observe and provide feedback, evaluate teacher candidate performance, and connect coursework and classroom practice. Results indicate strong support for the continuation of the FL model in lieu of traditional supervision. Specifically, the FL model supported teacher candidate learning, both in the field and in university coursework; and enhanced school-university collaboration. The authors provide an analysis …

The Stories We All Share : A Sixth Grade Geography Curriculum Based On Paul Salopek's "Out Of Eden Walk", Georgina Wells

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This sixth grade geography curriculum is based on a digital journalism series called the "Out of Eden Walk," in which Paul Salopek, a journalist for National Geographic, is spending seven years walking the path of early human migration and digitally reporting the stories he encounters. The curriculum follows him on his journey, as students read his and other stories about early man, Africa, and the Middle East. Students also design and report findings from their own walks.

The Effects Of English Language Learners' Native Language On Their Attitudes Toward School, Kelly Griffith

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Annually, the number of English language learners (ELLs) in American classrooms increases. Recent studies have highlighted the benefits of using ELLs' native language (L1) in the classroom (Slavin & Cheung, 2004). Research on L1 use has focused on three main themes: parental involvement, teacher attitudes, and incorporating L1 into instruction. This study investigated how using ELLs' native language in the classroom affected their attitudes toward school. ELL students in a fourth grade classroom participated in a project where they represented their native culture through pictures and words. Results from the study included influences on participants' attitudes about school and their …

The Impact Of Communication Impairments On The Social Relationships Of Older Adults, Andrew Demetrius Palmer

Dissertations and Theses

Communication forms the foundation of social interaction. For older adults, however, there is known to be an increased risk of developing conditions that interfere with the ability to communicate. These conditions may occur for a variety of reasons, including age-related changes in physical or sensory functioning, injury, and disease. It is estimated that 55% of all Medicare beneficiaries have a communication impairment of some kind. Social contact is known to be vital for older adults' mental and physical health but, because communication impairments often co-occur with other types of disability, it is difficult to generalize about the relative impact of …

An Invitation To Rethinking Early Childhood Learning Spaces : Museums As Young Learners' Classrooms, Charissa Ruth

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Many museums are now offering more opportunities and incorporating services to encourage families with young children to explore and enjoy museums. One of these opportunities is the creation of preschools located in or as part of museums. The author focuses on two institutions to provide a picture of how the museum preschool experience has been shaped to fit the institution.

Early Literacy In The Secondary Esl Classroom, Heather Atkinson

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This paper explores the concepts of early literacy instruction and language literacy development, as well as the usefulness of these instructional approaches for building the English language proficiency of ELLs in secondary ESL classrooms.

Teacher Perceptions Of Students In Poverty, Jena R. Johnson

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This project is an investigation of teachers' perceptions towards students living in poverty and how they impact teacher-student relationships. Data was collected from in-depth interviews with four teachers and a school social worker to gain perspective on this issue. The results of the study offer insight about teacher perceptions and contribute to better instruction and teacher-student relationships.

Strategic Study Abroad: A Program Proposal For Continued Faith Development Of Chi Alpha Students Studying Abroad, Erin Leonard

Capstone Collection

With around 28,000 individual participants, Chi Alpha is a diverse network of Christian students on U.S. college campuses. By regularly meeting in groups and collectively reaching out to the community, students develop their faith and build lasting relationships.

Faith development is an integral part of Chi Alpha students’ lives. Yet, because community is an important aspect in faith development, studying abroad can cause challenges. Students expressed missing accessible Christian peer support and mentorship while abroad. They further expressed disconnection from their faith and felt their spirituality had declined while studying abroad.

As study abroad participation has been increasing over the …

Sounds And Symbols : The Relationship Between Auditory Processing And Reading, Jacqueline Kohos

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This project explores the relationship between auditory processing and reading. Inspired by the students and teachers during the author's first year of teaching, this work analyzes five areas of reading challenge through the lens of auditory processing: letter names and sounds, phonological awareness, sight words, decoding, and fluency.

University Of Montana Commencement Program, 2015, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of The Registrar

University of Montana Commencement Programs, 1898-2020

Commencement program from the University of Montana.

Health-Related Beliefs, Practices, And Experiences Of Migrant Dominicans In The Northeastern United States, Constance Sobon Sensor

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Purpose: This study aimed to discover and describe migrant Dominican cultural beliefs and practices related to health, the ways that migrant Dominicans take care of their health in their new environment, and their experience with professional health care in the Northeastern United States.

Design: This descriptive qualitative study was guided by Leininger’s Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality and four-phase analysis method. The health-related beliefs, practices and experiences of a convenience sample of 15 self-identified adult Dominicans living in the United States for six months or more were explored in three focus groups, assisted by trained culturally appropriate interpreters. …

“He Was The Mirror Of The World”: Social Constructivist Reflections In Le Roman De Silence, Hillary O'Brien

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This essay attempts to clarify the purpose of ambiguity and indecision within Heldris of Cornwall's Roman de Silence. Using the framework laid out by Judith Butler, it seeks to understand the way that the protagonist's performance of gender and class reflects the social context in which she lives.