Digital Commons Network^™

Behavioral Approach And Fear Moderates The Relationship Between Insensitive/Intrusive Parenting And Early Language Development, C.J. Richier

Honors Capstones

Early language development has been implicated in a variety of other critical developmental outcomes making it important to understand contributors to the emergence of early language. Although still understudied, there is increasing recognition that children’s temperament and early parenting may be important factors in the emergence of early language. To add to this growing body of work, in the current investigation, two aspects of temperament, infant fearfulness, underpinned by the behavioral inhibition system, and approach, underpinned by the behavioral activation system (Schwartz et al., 1999), were examined in relation to language when children were 14 months of age. In addition, …

Bikebot: A Study In Reinforcement Learning, April L. Kutz, Kristen A. Brennan, Jeremy Dixon, Nathan Bogdonas

Honors Capstones

In the United States, there is a lack of young adults interested in studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). One way to help spark interest in STEM is a classroom aid that demonstrates how STEM can be fun and how it is used to push the limits of modern technology. BikeBot was designed for just this purpose. BikeBot is a robotic bicycle that utilizes an algorithm called Q-learning. Q-Learning is a type of reinforcement machine learning program, a basic form of artificial intelligence, that will allow BikeBot to balance without any explicit controls. The algorithm was tested and proven …

Connecting Mothers And Infants In The Nicu, O.N. Lloyd

Honors Capstones

When one thinks of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), technical skills and electronic monitoring are often considered the most important. While this may be appropriate when considering the maternal-infant experience in the NICU from a medical perspective, it is far from the case from the nursing perspective. As nurses, it is our responsibility and duty to care holistically for our patients’ being, which includes their mental and emotional strength as well as their physical and medical needs. In the context of mothers and babies, this means doing everything in nurse’s power to promote the maternal-infant bond. While this may …

Exploring Factors Influencing Grade-Level Reading Proficiency Among The Hearing Impaired Learners: A Case Of A Public Primary School In Kiambu County, Kenya, Kuria Jennifer Wanjiru

Master of Education

In primary school, learners should read to grade level, synthesize, explain and analyze what they read for them to be called proficient readers. Yet, according to the US National deaf children's society, 20% of HI learners leave primary school with a reading level at or below second grade. This denies them the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills because academic content is transmitted through text as they pass through grade levels. Subsequently, they may not benefit from learning and participate fully in public and economic life. In Kenya, a number of studies address reading to grade-level proficiency based on observations …

Exploring How The Use Of Pedagogy Of Play Enhances Children’S Learning: A Case Study Of Two Pre-Primary Schools In Stesheni, Nachingwea, Athman Hassan Mushi

Master of Education

Play and children’s learning are the two things that cannot be separated, as play appears to be children’s work and the most comfort and preferable activity to children. This means for children to easily capture and learn new concepts, they need to be exposed and assisted through playful learning activities. Thus teachers and parents are required to use children’s initiated plays to support and facilitate their easily concept understanding and construction. Therefore, the use of play in early childhood learning is unavoidable phenomenon for easily children’s social, cognitive, and emotional developments Educationists, parents, and administrators have appreciations and therefore, acknowledge …

Exploring The Experinces Of Secondary Students In Using The Scientific Calculator As A Tool For Learning Mathematics: A Case Of A Secondary School In Rachuonyo South Sub-County, Kenya, Edith Owano Ndong'a

Master of Education

Mathematics is central in the technological development of any country. It is for this reason therefore that educational technology has been recognised as an essential component in the process of preparing students for technological and industrial advancement. Thus in the year 2002 the Kenya Ministry of Education recommended the use of scientific calculators to be used in the teaching and learning of mathematics and also during exams in secondary schools in Kenya. The intention of this move was to ensure that time was not wasted in solving mathematical problems and also improve students’ performance (Ochanda & Indoshi, 2011). However the …

Exploring The Implementation Of Mother Tongue As A Medium Of Instruction In Lower Primary School. A Case Of A Rural Public School In Rarieda Sub-County, Kenya, Elias Okello Okal

Master of Education

Using mother tongue as a language in education is the best strategy for realizing quality education for young children. This study sought to explore how mother tongue as a medium of instruction is implemented in lower primary. Children first come to school with mother tongue which they understand and this can be instrumental in teaching. The study was conducted in a rural public school in Rarieda Sub-county, Western Kenya. The study adopted qualitative research approach and case study design. Purposive and stratified random sampling was used to identify the research site and recruit participants. The participants included the head teacher, …

Exploring Performance Based Assessment Task Development Practices Of Tutors: A Case Of A Technical And Vocational Education And Training Institute In Coastal Kenya, Gertrude Kiloko Musyoka

Master of Education

Assessment of student learning is an integral part of teaching and learning. Performance based assessments (PBA) is a common form of assessments used in TVET institutions to assess skill competencies of the trainees. These skills cannot be effectively assessed using traditional paper and pencil tests. Literature shows that PBA should be well designed so as to give accurate feedback that can be used to make valid judgments on TVET trainees‟ performance in relation to acquisition of skills for employability. There are guidelines that should be followed in order to develop quality PBA tasks that can assess skills effectively. This is …

Experiences Of Hearing Impaired Learners In Assessment, Jenniffer Jeptepkeny

Master of Education

This study sought to find out the experiences of HI leaners in assessment.The HI students are those whose ability to hear and subsequently engage in conversation is severely compromised by their inability to hear. As part of the governments‟ agenda to provide free education to all children the HI students have been admitted in inclusive schools. However, they face many challenges and opportunities in their quest for an education and more specifically when engaging with assessment activities. Assessment activities are crucial to learning as they give insight into the extent of which the student has learnt. This study sought to …

Exploring Community Primary Teachers’ Experiences In The Generalist Based Teaching Subject Allocations. The Case Of Two Schools In Newala Urban, Ahmad Awadh Mussa

Master of Education

The approaches to allocating subjects to primary school teachers in Tanzania have been affected with the changes in the systems of instruction between the generalist and specialist systems. While the prevailing approach to subject allocations is based in the generalist system, the presence of both specialist and generalist teachers in schools have made those teachers experience varying associated feelings, challenges, and ways to address those challenges. This study explores these experiences of teachers by first creating an understanding, strengths and weaknesses of each system before examining teachers’ views regarding the more ideal approach to subject allocations. Data was collected using …

Provision Of Early Childhood Education In The Era Of Devolution In Kenya: A Case Of Two Ece Centers In Machakos County, Kenya., Francis Musyoka Mululu

Master of Education

In 2010, Kenyans voted in a new constitution which devolved a significant number of functions to the newly created 47devolved county governments including early childhood education. With the general elections in 2013 these county governments started their operations with zeal since Kenyans were banking on them to improve their lives through the devolved functions. This study sought to find out the state of provision of early childhood education (ECE) in the era of devolution in Kenya. The study was guided by the following question: ‘In what ways has devolution enhanced the provision of ECE in Kenya?’ The two subsidiary questions …

Learners‟ Conceptual Understanding And Misconceptions Of Fractions In Primary Schools In Amuria District Local Government, Uganda, Erumu Simon Peter

Master of Education

Fractions are a core part of the mathematics curriculum, important in their own right and also as a building block to more advanced topics. There is clear evidence, however, that the teaching and learning of fractions pose a challenge to many teachers and learners in primary schools the world over, with a number of common misconceptions resulting in persistent errors in learners‟ work. If these errors are not addressed at their early stages, it becomes a challenge to address them. In this study a sample of 20 Ugandan primary 5 and 6 children were given 7 additional lessons on fractions …

The Readiness Of Rural Government Secondary Schools In Uganda To Teach Information And Communication Technology (Ict) As A Dedicated Subject On The Curriculum: A Case Study Of Two Schools In Yumbe District, Baiga Solomon

Master of Education

This study sought to establish the readiness of two rural government secondary schools in Uganda to teach Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a dedicated subject on the curriculum as part of the effort to equip the students with the necessary skills necessary for them to be able to access the benefits of ICTs both for enhancing their education and also for enabling them to fit and work successfully in an increasingly ICT- driven world. This qualitative study involved two schools in the rural district of Yumbe, in West Nile, Northern Uganda. The findings of this study suggest that schools …

Exploration Of Students‟ Perceptions On The Teaching Strategies In The Chemistry Classroom: A Case Study Of One Public Secondary School In Jinja District- Uganda, Ajiga Swale Kelili

Master of Education

Chemistry is a crucial subject in the school curriculum, equipping future citizens with crucial knowledge and understanding, both in the world of work and in everyday life. Against this, literature can be found indicating that chemistry is considered to be a difficult and remote subject, hierarchical in nature, using notation which is not readily understood. The current study sought to explore students‟ perceptions on teaching strategies in the chemistry classroom, and was conducted in one rural public secondary school in Jinja District, Uganda. 100 senior 3 students completed a questionnaire asking their perceptions as to what teaching methods get used …

Exploring The Efficacy Of School And Community Based Literacy Intervention Programmes: A Case Of Literacy Development And Learning Outcomes In Low Resource Environments, Anyanzo John Philip

Master of Education

Literacy is perceived as a crucial tool for acquiring a wide range of learning skills and acts as an inducement for everyday life and life-long learning. Besides, literacy is one of the pillars that support individual and societal development as well as playing key role in poverty reduction. As such, this study explored the factors influencing the efficacy of school and community based literacy intervention programmes in context of literacy development, and learning outcomes in low resource communities. The study was conducted in two public primary schools, and two community literacy intervention centres, in Koboko district, Uganda. The study used …

Commencement Program, December (2016), Minnesota State University Moorhead

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

In Memoriam: Abner J. Mikva, Douglas G. Baird

University of Chicago Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Balancing Equation For Social Media Publication Notice, Philip P. Ehrlich

University of Chicago Law Review

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Small Class Setting On The Algebra I Achievement Of Ninth-Grade Students, Lisa Kissire

College of Education Dissertations

The effects of class size on student outcomes has been widely studied at the elementary level. Many such studies have found important relationships between class size and outcome in the areas of academic achievement, student discipline, and teacher retention. However, little attention has been given to the examination of how class size may affect student outcomes in the middle school and high school levels. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to examine the effects of class size setting, gender, socioeconomic status, and school configuration on the Algebra I achievement of ninthgrade students. Participants were drawn from four rural schools …

The Effects Of Explicit And Systematic Phonemic Awareness Instruction On Reading For English Language Learners, Annette Freeman

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to find effective phonological instruction for improving reading comprehension and oral language proficiency of ELLs. In addition, this study was conducted to inform school administrators without ESL certification about best practices in ELL education so they could make informed, school-wide decisions for better serving ELLs before entry into secondary schools.

The sample included first and second-grade students identified as ELLs in two Northwest Arkansas elementary schools. The two schools were selected based on their similar student demographics of grade configuration, ethnicity, and poverty rate. All students selected for the study were identified as ELLs …

Preseason Jump And Hop Measures In Male Collegiate Basketball Players: An Epidemiologic Report, Jason Brumitt, Amy Engilis, Dale Isaak, Amy Briggs, Alma Mattocks

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Background: Injuries are inherent in basketball with lower extremity (LE) injury rates reported as high as 11.6 per 1000 athletic exposures (AEs); many of these injuries result in time loss from sport participation. A recent trend in sports medicine research has been the attempt to identify athletes who may be at risk for injury based on measures of preseason fitness.

Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine if the standing long jump (SLJ) and/or the single-leg hop (SLH) for distance functional performance tests (FPT) are associated with non-contact time loss lower quadrant (LQ, defined as lower …

Inter-Relationships Linking Probability Of Becoming A Case Of Nicotine Dependence With Frequency Of Tobacco Cigarette Smoking, Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya, James C. Anthony

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Once smoking starts, some tobacco cigarette smokers (TCS) can make very rapid transitions into tobacco dependence syndromes (TCD). With adjustment for smoking frequency, we posit female excess risk for this rapid-onset TCD. In a novel application of functional analysis for tobacco research, we estimate four Hill function parameters and plot TCD risk against a gradient of smoking frequency, as observed quite soon after smoking onset.

METHODS: In aggregate, the National Surveys of Drug Use and Health, 2004-2013, identified 1546 newly incident TCS in cross-sectional research, each with standardized TCD assessment.

RESULTS: Hill function estimates contradict our apparently over-simplistic hypothesis. …

Turning It Up To Eleven: Belligerent Rhetoric In North Korea's Propaganda, Mason Richey

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Book Review - Focus On Solutions: A Health Professional's Guide (Revised Second Edition), Jonas Wells

Journal of Solution Focused Practices

No abstract provided.

A Parish Guide To The Use Of Creative Problem Solving In Marketing Plan Development, Patricia H. Meyer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project is to show how Creative Problem Solving can be introduced into the development of a marketing plan for a church parish. Background as to the need for a marketing plan and the advantages of using Creative Problem Solving techniques will be discussed, as well as some of the theology which might underlie the process undertaken by a marketing committee. Particular attention will be given to the context of the Catholic Church and theology, as that is my personal background and training. A sample process guide will be included to provide a parish with a model …

Pushback: Critical Data Designers And Pollution Politics, Kim Fortun, Lindsay Poirier, Alli Morgan, Brandon Costelloe-Kuehn, Mike Fortun

Statistical and Data Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this paper, we describe how critical data designers have created projects that ‘push back’ against the eclipse of environmental problems by dominant orders: the pioneering pollution database Scorecard, released by the US NGO Environmental Defense Fund in 1997; the US Environmental Protection Agency’s EnviroAtlas that brings together numerous data sets and provides tools for valuing ecosystem services; and the Houston Clean Air Network’s maps of real-time ozone levels in Houston. Drawing on ethnographic observations and interviews, we analyse how critical data designers turn scientific data and findings into claims and visualisations that are meaningful in contemporary political terms. The …

Leadership Development For School Principals: An Adult Learning Perspective, Hyun-Jun Joo, Taeyeon Kim

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Although research has increasingly recognized the importance of principal leadership development for school reform, both the content and delivery system continues to be open to debate. In this paper, we review school principal leadership development and provide a conceptual framework for developing school principal leadership based on adult learning theories. We conceptualize school principals as adult educators and adult learners based on key assumptions of adult learning theories. School principals are understood as both adult educators and adult learners in that they need to develop their leadership as well as support teachers’ learning in the context of professional development. Relying …

Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Rates In The United States: Methodologies, Challenges, And Implications For Individual States, Emily Ramsey, Lisa Kelly-Vance, Joseph A. Allen, Olivia Rosol, Michael Yoerger

Psychology Faculty Publications

Many different studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United States. The methodologies of these studies have varied, resulting in a multitude of publications with differing prevalence rates. Because there is such a wide range in the results of prevalence studies, it may be difficult for individual states to determine their rates. Accurate prevalence rates are important to obtain for many different reasons including increasing advocacy and awareness, increasing funding, and proper allocation of services for individuals with ASD and their families. Additionally, prevalence studies can be used to assess which …

Analysis Of Rna Expression Of Normal And Cancer Tissues Reveals High Correlation Of Cop9 Gene Expression With Respiratory Chain Complex Components, Christina A. Wicker, Tadahide Izumi

Toxicology and Cancer Biology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The COP9 signalosome, composed of eight subunits, is implicated in cancer genetics with its deneddylase activity to modulate cellular concentration of oncogenic proteins such as IkB and TGFβ. However, its function in the normal cell physiology remains elusive. Primarily focusing on gene expression data of the normal tissues of the head and neck, the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database was used to identify groups of genes that were expressed synergistically with the COP9 genes, particularly with the COPS5 (CSN5), which possesses the catalytic activity of COP9.

RESULTS: Expressions of seven of the COP9 genes (COPS2, COPS3, COPS4, COPS5, COPS6, …

The Wesleyan Connection And Discipleship, Woodrow W. Whidden

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.