Digital Commons Network^™

Removal Of Pfoa/Pfos In Water Using Electrocoagulation And Associated Life Cycle Impacts And Financial Costs, Tianhong Mu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Electrocoagulation (EC) with a zinc anode demonstrated promising results to remove perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from an aqueous solution. However, the energy requirement for EC is usually very high due to water electrolysis or aeration. The second chapter of this dissertation aims to reduce energy consumption using an air-cathode in EC (ACEC) to supply oxygen electron acceptor without aeration for attenuating PFOA/PFOS in this new configuration. For the high PFOA concentration (0.25 mM), ACEC with 45 min of the reaction time exhibited an excellent PFOA removal (99.8 ± 0.3% removal) comparable to an EC with aeration (EC-aeration, …

The Retention Of Urban Secondary Special Education Teachers: Why Stay?, Chelsea Quezada

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Utilizing interview data collected from six urban secondary special education teachers (SETs), this qualitative study explored why these individuals chose a teaching position in special education in urban secondary schools and why they remained in those positions despite the challenges inherent to that setting. From role and organizational theory, we know that retention is the result of a complex set of socialization factors that either support successful integration into the SET role or impede the individual’s efforts to achieve fit within the given organization. This study sought to understand how these six SETS experienced the socialization process and which factors …

Improving Growth Models Of Cultivated Sugar Kelp, Saccharina Latissima, By Accounting For Intraspecific Variation In Thermal Tolerance, Ruby Krasnow, Sara Gonzalez, Scott Lindell

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Dynamic models of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) growth are used to estimate the production potential of seaweed aquaculture in many regions around the world. These models do not currently account for the existence of S. latissima ecotypes that are adapted to regional environmental conditions, particularly temperature. We tested the hypothesis that recalibrating the temperature parameters of a dynamic energy budget model using literature data for S. latissima from regions with a similar climate to the region of interest would result in more accurate predictions than using a general species-wide temperature response curve. Calibrating the model using data from warm regions …

Undergraduate Dental Curricula In Middle Eastern And Arabic-Speaking African Nations − A Cross-Sectional Study, Lovely Muthiah Annamma, Jumma Al Khabuli, Sabrin Ali Azim, Huda Abutayyem, Mohamed Alkhuboli, A. Subaveerapandiyan, Rebecca Glanville, Kamran Ali

Peninsula Dental School

Purpose: To evaluate the design of undergraduate curricula, teaching and learning practices, assessments, admission criteria and quality assurance in dental schools across Middle Eastern and Arab-speaking African nations. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was sent to 40 dental colleges in the Middle East and African Arabic-speaking countries. A purposefully designed proforma consisting of 21 items divided into five sections based on admission criteria, curriculum delivery, teaching and learning practices, assessment methods, and quality assurance was used for data collection on Google forms. Participation in the survey was voluntary and all participants were consented before data collection. The data was analysed for …

Fact Sheet, Yale University Office Of Institutional Research

Fact Sheets

No abstract provided.

Racial Bias, Accomplice Liability, And The Felony Murder Rule: A National Empirical Study, G. Ben Cohen, Justin D. Levinson, Koichi Hioki

Akron Law Faculty Publications

Two long criticized prosecutorial tools—the felony murder rule and the accomplice liability doctrine—play an outsized role in the operation of American homicide law. Though each of these tools have separately faced intense criticism for their resistance to the supposedly foundational principles of moral culpability and individual responsibility, their legacy is also defined by the way they function symbiotically and specifically to heighten racialized punishment. This Article addresses the weighty combined reach of the accomplice liability doctrine and felony murder rule, and proposes that racial bias has fueled the operation and survival of these tools. Specifically, it suggests that implicit racial …

Expert Malpractice, James R. Steiner-Dillon

Akron Law Faculty Publications

The provision of expert testimony in litigation has become a big business. The paradigmatic testifying expert is no longer the “amateur” expert who maintains a separate professional identity and testifies only once, or at most sporadically, in litigation to which their expertise is uniquely pertinent. Rather, they are a professional provider of litigation support services who spends a substantial part of their time, and derives a substantial part of their income from, consulting on pending or contemplated lawsuits. Legal rules concerning the provision of expert testimony continue to apply the former, obsolete paradigm of the testifying expert. This conflict of …

Inheriting Shame: A Critical Analysis Of “The Eugenics Review”, Brygette R. Kunde

All Student Theses and Dissertations

The Eugenic Society was a group of self-proclaimed "Race-Improvers" who came together intending to better humanity by founding The Eugenics Society and producing, "The Eugenics Review,” a publication that circulated throughout the United States from 1909 until 1968. Eugenicists wrote on diverse topics surrounding race betterment by introducing scientific methods that were both inhumane and injustice based on their parochial, perceived notions that inequalities are ubiquitous. Categories like religion, race, class, nationality, gender, and many others have been the sources of stigmatization, discrimination, and conflict throughout the centuries in the United States. Assessing the development of the eugenics movement is …

Violence & Volition: Choice, Acceptance, And Identity In Selected Works By Flannery O'Connor, Kurt Vonnegut, And Cormac Mccarthy, Lisa Farrell

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Violence is ubiquitous in American Fiction, especially in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, “Good Country People”, and “The Displaced Person” Flannery O’Connor highlights the choices people make within that violence can directly affect the results of that violence. Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, through the character of Billy Pilgrim, extends choices around violence even further, suggesting that inaction is sometimes the best plan. Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men highlights how a combination of action and inaction, depending on the situation, can help or hurt someone when violence surrounds them.

Protective Factors Among Native Born And Immigrant Undergraduate And Graduate Students Enrolled In American Colleges: Predictive Validity Of Acculturation, Family Involvement, Academic Persistence, Grit, And Sense Of Belonging, Agnieszka Tulowiecka

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Achieving higher education goals and becoming acculturated to the social and economic values of the U.S. is critical for the success of immigrants. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, immigrants are estimated to account for 93% of the nation's workforce population growth over the next three decades (Pew, 2013). However, much of the existing empirical work on postsecondary outcomes among immigrant youth mainly focuses on the challenges and deficits faced by this group, as well as differences between racial/ethnic categories. This This emphasis might potentially mask within-group differences (e.g., ethnic/regional variations) that arise from unique pre- and …

Introductory Activity For Generative Ai, Josh Anthony

English Faculty Teaching Materials

The basic mechanics of this activity are simple: choose a reading from class and try to manipulate the LLM to recreate it as close to the original as possible. As a rule, I generally try to produce and run activities that are modular, interchangeable, and adaptable. This activity is no different. In one course, we used the prompt and only the prompt—no scaffolding. In other courses, we scaffolded LLMs, understood how prompt engineering might work, and worked as a class to construct the prompt we thought would produce a suitable outcome.

For students, the limitations of the LLMs become clear …

More Than Just Numbers: Fostering Connectivity With Patients For Improved Outcomes, Marsha Mackenzie, Katie Hamilton

2024

No abstract provided.

A Case Study To Determine The Literacy Needs Within Remediation Practices For Students In Grades 1-3, Miranda M. Gillis

Doctor of Education Dissertations

In order to effectively teach reading, it is not enough for a teacher to possess knowledge and skills alone. It is equally important to use evidence-based instructional approaches and interventions, especially when working with at-risk or struggling students. Without appropriate instructional materials and contexts, even the most competent teacher may fail to teach essential literacy skills, such as phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, spelling, and writing processes. As the importance of teacher quality gains attention at the state and federal levels, lesson structure and allocation of lesson time for literacy-related activities have become a focus. The emergence of structured literacy underscores …

The Impact Of The Science Of Reading Required Training On The Reading Proficiency Levels Of Third-Grade African American Male Students, Tonya Campbell

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Proficiency in reading is an essential skill for achieving success in the modern era, and African American students have struggled with reading due to insufficient support during literacy instruction. Through the implementation of the Science of Reading™ course, this research aimed to examine the effect of the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS™) curriculum on the success of African American third-grade males based on the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready (SC READY™) summative assessments and Northwest Academic Evaluation Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP™) data. This study followed the year before LETRS™ was introduced (2019), the 2 …

The Principal's Role In Creating A Culturally Responsive Learning Environment, Freda J. Allen

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Many educators believe the implementation of culturally responsive strategies may help to increase the engagement and academic success of students of color. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not culturally responsive leadership (CRL) strategies were consistently being implemented in schools with large percentages of minority students. The research for this study was based on the CRL Framework developed by The Leadership Academy in 2022. This mixed methods study explored the practices of current school administrators and compared them to the perceptions of staff members. Staff members from three high schools completed a 23-question survey with a …

A Program Evaluation Of The Building Blocks Of Comprehension, Jessica H. Monroe

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation is a program evaluation of the Building Blocks of Comprehension vocabulary program, which was first implemented during the 2019-2020 school year by the English department at the school site. The study aimed to investigate the impact of morphological instruction on student vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension. Chomsky’s (1975) Linguistic Theory, Marzano’s (2004) Six-Step Model of Vocabulary Introduction, and the Active View of Reading (Duke & Cartwright, 2021) were identified as theoretical frameworks for the program evaluation. Quantitative data from this mixed methods study were collected from pre and posttests, weekly quizzes, and unit assessments, and qualitative data were …

A Program Evaluation Of The Mtss Framework In Grades 1-3 And The Perceived Impact On Tier 3 Reading Students, Amy Wilson Fonseca

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods program evaluation evaluated the implementation of the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) framework in one North Carolina school district. It examined the perceived teacher impact of the program implementation for Tier 3 reading students in first through third grades. The vision for employing the MTSS framework in North Carolina is for all prekindergarten through 12^th-grade public education organizations to implement and sustain all areas of an MTSS to ensure students are college-, career-, and community-ready (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction [NCDPI], 2021). I used the study's results to determine how various stakeholders perceive program …

Formative Assessment Practices: A Mixed Methods Study Of New Career And Technical Education Teacher Perceptions Of Their Levels Of Knowledge And Use, Alisha Kay Privette

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the implementation of training and practices of formative assessment for new North Carolina Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers. The study investigated new CTE teacher levels of knowledge, the strategies they use, and the challenges they face. This study aimed to improve the quality of education for North Carolina CTE students and support the training of new CTE teachers by providing insights into the implementation and effectiveness of formative assessment practices. According to research, if new teachers feel empowered and encouraged, they are more inclined to comprehend the benefits of …

An Initial Investigation Of Measuring Change In Reading Proficiency During Letrs Implementation, Beverly Hart

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate the impact of LETRS professional development on reading proficiency. I used ANOVA tests to analyze third- through fifth-grade EOG assessment scores for changes in proficiency from 2021-2023. The results indicated a statistically significant change in the means for all grades. Third-grade results reflected the most impact from the professional development. The analysis also showed that the third-grade achievement gap had declined slightly. A dependent t test was conducted to ascertain any change in the growth index scores of schools. The test results showed no statistically significant change. The study's limitations include the lingering impact of …

A Mixed Methods Study Of An Alternative Educational Program For At-Risk Students In South Carolina, Lucia K. Jacobs

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This research study focused on the theories that support and underpin the Nine Characteristics of High-Performing Schools. Much of the data presented about high-performing schools lack data about schools that are nontraditional; the nontraditional school, otherwise known as an alternative school or alternative learning placement, supports students who fail to thrive in the traditional school setting. The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. This design utilized an initial quantitative phase of data collection and analysis, followed by a qualitative phase of data collection and analysis. The purpose of the qualitative phase was to gain further insight regarding the …

Program Evaluation Of Big Ideas Math Among Third-Grade Students In Polston School District Title 1 Schools, Melissa Pollard-Hudson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This quantitative study explored how well the Big Ideas Math (BIM) curriculum helped third-grade students in Title I schools within the Polston School District (pseudonym) improve their math skills and high-stakes testing scores. Thirteen elementary schools were selected based on factors such as diversity, poverty rates, and academic performance. The study addressed 2019-2023 except for the COVID-19 year, 2020. Using the logic model and constructivism as the conceptual framework, the study assessed student progress through quarterly benchmarks and the SC READY exam. This analysis was performed using repeated measures and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The analysis showed progressions …

Examining Implementation Of Science Of Reading Practices In North Carolina Public Schools, Brittany Ramsey Evans

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine teacher reactions to the adoption and implementation of the Science of Reading (SoR) in North Carolina public schools. In 2021, North Carolina mandated a shift in literacy instruction that started a change initiative beginning with a 2-year professional development for all PreK-5 public school teachers. As other states implement literacy movements aligned with SoR instruction, findings from this study may help them determine their best course of action. Using the theoretical foundation of change theory, I completed a mixed methods convergent parallel design study to explore the implementation process through the lens …

From Page To Practice: The Impact Of A Guided Book Study On Classroom Teacher Perceptions Of Cultural Proficiency And Culturally Responsive Teaching At One Middle School, Joan T. Dorsey

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This qualitative study investigated the impact of a guided book study on middle school classroom teacher perceptions of cultural proficiency and culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices in one middle school environment. Data were collected from seven middle school teachers who participated in the study. A participatory action research (PAR) approach, an online interest survey, reflection questions, an anticipation guide, Get Centered questions, interview questions, and field notes were utilized to gather the perceptions. The outcome of the study demonstrated a shift in teacher perceptions regarding cultural proficiency and CRT practices. The participants shared an increased understanding and willingness to attempt …

A Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Reading Teachers' Lived Experiences Of Learning Management Systems During The Covid-19 Pandemic And Their Impact On Reading Instruction, Rebekah L. Hadley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many school districts were forced to switch to remote learning, which presented a new and challenging experience for teachers. The study described the experiences of middle school reading teachers’ use of learning management systems (LMSs) during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on reading instruction. The study focused on a school district in southeastern North Carolina with 19 middle schools and three reading teachers per grade level. The primary method of data collection used in the study was interviews. The interviews revealed that teachers faced several challenges when using LMSs, such as limited knowledge of LMS, …

An Evaluation Of The Process For Assigning Standardized Testing Accommodations For Students With Autism, Lisa Ober

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This dissertation evaluated the process for assigning standardized testing accommodations for students with autism on the standard course of study. The study captured current levels of teacher understanding, their perceptions regarding how testing accommodations might increase equitable access for students with autism, and how these beliefs influence the process of assigning accommodations. The study identified key themes surrounding current processes and equity through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with exceptional children and general education teachers and observation of professional learning communities and individualized education plan meetings. The findings revealed that inadequate teacher training and the lack of universal protocols for …

Measuring The Impact: Teacher Self-Efficacy In Literacy Instruction Following Letrs Professional Development, Elizabeth Younger

Doctor of Education Dissertations

North Carolina passed legislation that required all elementary literacy teachers to be trained in the Science of Reading (SOR). The North Carolina Public Department of Education (NCDPI) partnered with Lexia Learning to provide training on the SOR to all public-school Pre-K-5 literacy teachers using the professional development (PD) program Language Essential for Teacher of Reading and Spelling (LETRS). This study looked at how teachers in one North Carolina school district perceive the LETRS program to have impacted their efficacy in literacy instruction. This study used a mixed-method design using an explanatory sequential design with two phases. The first stage included …

The Impact Of I-Ready In Title I Elementary Schools In A Rural District In North Carolina, Davisha Covington Moore

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study evaluated the impact of the Curriculum Associates i-Ready math program, specifically its online personalized pathways, on Title I elementary schools. The primary goals were to determine if the adaptive, personalized learning program positively impacts student achievement and growth in end-of-grade (EOG) assessments and helps students below grade level make academic gains toward proficiency, and if the i-Ready program is a worthwhile investment for renewal while meeting students' educational needs. In the study district, math scores had not met strategic academic goals, prompting the adoption of the i-Ready curriculum. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted in three …

Perceptions Of Principal Instructional Leadership In High-Performing, High-Poverty Elementary Schools In South Carolina, Labrenthia Denise Khaalid

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The achievement gap between high-poverty and low-poverty schools is well documented. Principals play a key role in creating the conditions and instituting practices that help ensure students achieve regardless of socioeconomic status. In addition to teachers’ direct effect, strong principals have a positive, though primarily indirect, effect on student achievement. Highly effective principal instructional leadership is crucial. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a significant difference in principal, teacher, and supervisor perceptions of principal instructional leadership in high-performing, high-poverty (HP-HP) elementary schools in South Carolina. The Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS), comprised of 10 …

#Booktok: Social Media’S Influence On Literature, Madison Hyatt

Honors Theses

Exploring the social media phenomenon, TikTok, and its influence on the community, #Booktok is the newest way readers stay up to date on new books, and what to read. Is this a good thing? A bad thing? And how has this new way of consuming books influenced reading and literature?

Departure From Magical Realism: Female Agency In Latin American Post-Boom Literature, Nicole Darian Llacza Morazzani

Honors Theses

his thesis explores depictions of female agency in post-colonial Latin American literature. I highlight three primary texts: Gabriel García Márquez's (1927-2014) 1967 One Hundred Years of Solitude, a canonical magical realist novel; Isabel Allende's (1942-present) 1982 The House of Spirits, her debut novel and a multi-generational story similar to Márquez's, and Isabel Allende's 2022 Violeta, a historical novel offering an autodiegetic narrative of a woman's 100 years of life in an unnamed South American country, to analyze how female characters evolve in response to changing sociopolitical landscapes and literary movements in Latin America. My central focus is Allende's most recent …