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Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 8, Issue 2, Fall 2024

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Spring 2024 issue (Volume 8, Issue 1) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

The Fall 2024 issue presents practical ideas and prompts for those who teach at colleges and universities in a variety of disciplines. Articles ways to use popular culture (in this case, reality TV) to teach higher-level concepts; strategies for adapting Lesson Study techniques for preservice teachers; and a review of McNair et al.'s 2022 book on creating student ready colleges.

Extension Agents’ Perceptions Of Community Readiness For Farm Stress And Suicide Prevention Efforts, Paula Yuma, Melissa Pearman Fenton, Lorann Stallones, Morgan Valley

Transforming Communities

The aim of the present study is to describe how Extension Agents in rural Colorado perceive their communities’ readiness to engage with farm stress and suicide prevention services and resources. Interviews were conducted with Extension Agents from five Colorado counties experiencing high suicide rates. Interview questions were based on a Community Readiness for Community Change framework, and inductive analysis was used to generate themes from the data. Results demonstrate that while prevention efforts are underway, community awareness remains low. In addition to structural barriers associated with rurality (e.g., lack of mental health providers), stigma remains a significant barrier to help-seeking. …

Leveraging Gamification And Social Media To Teach Heart Failure Clinical Practice Guidelines In Entry-Level Physical Therapist Education, Kaelee Brockway

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Clinical practice guideline adherence remains a challenge in health care, with reported rates as low as 26%. Research shows multiple barriers to adherence, including limited access and guideline complexity. Integrating guidelines into education is crucial, demanding innovative methods to enhance translation into practice.

Methods: This multiple methods study explored application of the substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition model to integrate social media and gamification activities to engage students in learning action statements of a clinical practice guideline for the management of heart failure. Performance on exam items relevant to the guideline content were used to determine if this …

Game On! A Comparative Analysis Of External Load In Division Iii Soccer Players Across Gender And Position, Bianca J. De Lucia, Daniel M. Smith, Ashima Fillbach, Mary K. Feit

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Global positioning systems have been used increasingly in sports science due to their ability to quantify external loads of athletes during competitions and practices. Limited research has examined gender differences in external load throughout a collegiate soccer season. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare game workloads across collegiate men (MSOC) and women (WSOC) soccer players. Division III MSOC and WSOC players wore GPS devices during games throughout a 15-week season. METHODS: Metrics analyzed from GPS data were: total distance (TD), sprint distance (SD), number of deceleration efforts (decel) (>-3 m/s²), number of acceleration efforts (accel) ( …

Scaling Success: Implementing Pbis In Large School Districts, Tara Davis, Kathleen Greb

Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference

This presentation will provide a comprehensive guide to implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in large school districts. Attendees will gain insights into the unique challenges and strategies for scaling PBIS across multiple schools, with a focus on district-wide planning, resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement. Coaching support, professional development, and tools for monitoring progress will be shared to support effective and sustainable PBIS implementation.

Integrating Supports To Meet The Needs Of The Whole Child, Rebecca Wright, Deshonda Stringer

Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference

Georgia Multi-Tiered System of Supports (GaMTSS) is a data-driven, multi-level prevention system designed to meet the needs of the whole child by implementing a continuum of tiered supports. This session will discuss the integration of academics, behavior, and well-being which is essential for student and educator success. These supports play a critical role in impacting positive school climate. An overview of the five essential components of GaMTSS, with an emphasis on building a strong infrastructure, will also be discussed.

Building Evidence-Based Pbs For Schools, Clinics And Communities, Tom Clees

Georgia Association for Positive Behavior Support Conference

Abstract

For students in both the general and adapted curriculum, low achievement, behavioral excesses and social skills deficits are predictive of each other (Gresham, 2016;). Too, an escalating cycle may lead to further antisocial responses, a decrease in learning outcomes, and exclusion from services for some (Kauffman, 2018). Related to these challenges, the successful application of positive behavior supports has been widely reported by schools, clinics, and community-based services. Although definitions of PBS, and the scope of these practices, vary depending on the reference point of those responsible for administration and application, there seems to be agreement that PBS practices …

The Relationship Between Death Depression And Death Anxiety Among Cancer Patients In Saudi Arabia, Doaa A. Almostadi

Theses

This study explored the relationship between death anxiety and death depression among cancer patients in Saudi Arabia. The study sample consisted of 100 Saudi cancer patients, 50 male and 50 female, ranging in age from 18 to 85 with a mean age of 45.5. All participants completed a survey questionnaire that included three parts: the first part contained a demographic data form; the second part consisted of 20 statements to measure death anxiety using the Arabic Death Anxiety Scale; the third part was a 21- item, questionnaire designed to measure depression about impending death using the Death Depression scale-Revised Arabic …

The Obsolescence Of Voluntary Confessions In Maine, John C. Sheldon

Maine Law Review

The would-be assassin lurks in the crowd that gathers outside the campaign headquarters building. In anticipation of the candidate's appearance, the television technicians hoist their videotape cameras and illuminate the scene with floodlights, as the gunman nervously fingers the automatic concealed in the pocket of his field jacket. Moments later, the candidate emerges from the doorway; the assassin rushes into the floodlit view of the cameras, takes aim at the startled politician, and hollers: "I've been planning this for years, and now I'm going to give you what's coming to you." His shots ring out as Secret Service agents converge …

Faculty Experiences Using Synchronous Videoconference Technology To Assess Student Psychomotor Performance, Heather Disney, Debra Crawfordbpiecka Tyrrell, David Perry

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Psychomotor skills are an essential aspect of physical therapy (PT) education. Recent studies supported using videoconference technology (VCT) for psychomotor instruction, but research on the use of VCT for psychomotor assessments is limited. Determining the usefulness of VCT for psychomotor exams is vital to establishing best pedagogical practices. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the faculty experience using synchronous VCT to assess PT students’ psychomotor skills.

Methods: The conceptual framework for this study was the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). The research question guided the investigation into how PT educators …

Effectiveness Of Music On Comfort And Adherence To Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy In An Adult Population With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Tina Barber

DNP and Student Works

The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to implement a nurse-led program to include an education session about CPAP adherence and music intervention for adults treated for obstructive sleep apnea, followed by 12 weeks of patient use of the Respiratory Relief CD prior to CPAP therapy in the home to improve comfort and CPAP adherence.

Discovering The Process Of Reasonable Academic Accommodations For Pre-Licensure Nursing Students With Learning Disabilities, Amy Yarbrough

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the process by which nursing faculty make reasonable academic accommodations for students with learning disabilities in the classroom setting. Nursing students with identified learning disabilities require academic accommodations to facilitate their success. The process of reasonable academic accommodations for nursing students with learning disabilities has not been examined within nursing education literature. Clarification is necessary regarding this process to promote student success and inclusive learning environments within nursing education. Constructivist grounded theory methods as described by Charmaz (2014) guided data collection and analysis. The accommodation processes with categories were identified. The emergent …

Sedentary Behaviors And Physical Activity In University It Workers, Sungwon Park

Sigma Foundation for Nursing Research Grant Reports

• Aim 1. Formulate estimates of sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) in IT workers.
• Aim 2. Explore IT worker subgroup profiles to determine which subgroups are associated with the lowest and highest SB and PA.
• Aim 3. Identify factors influencing SB and PA at multi level.
• Aim 4. Determine modifiable risk factors influencing the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS), SB, and PA.

Networked To Work?: An Analysis Of A Community College Workforce Development Program, Cynthia Finley, Kim E. Bullington, Mitchell Williams, David Ayers

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Barriers to education and training can have a generational impact on socioeconomic status and economic development. Post-traditional students have been shown to experience a variety of barriers to education and family sustaining employment. Social capital has been shown to help alleviate some of the barriers for students resulting in stronger economic outcomes, such job retention, and higher wages.

The purpose of this case study was to determine if the Network2Work model at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) can affect outcomes for students from low socio-economic backgrounds by comparing Network2Work outcomes to non-Network2Work noncredit industry training outcomes. The research compared outcome …

Seeing Red In The Bluegrass: How The Democratic Party Lost Kentucky’S Voters, D. Stephen Voss, Corrine F. Elliott, Sherelle Roberts

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Editor’s Note: This article received the David Hughes Memorial Award at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Kentucky Political Science Association. It is published as it was submitted at the time, prior to the 2023 gubernatorial election.

Analysis Of Public Opinion Polls About Covid-19 Vaccines: Theoretical And Policy Implications For Vaccine Communication And Campaigns To Address Vaccine Hesitancy, Muhammad Ittefaq, Hong Tien Vu, Ali Zain, Tayyeb Ramazan, Gary L. Kreps

School of Communication Studies - Faculty Scholarship

This study analyzed 1432 questions asked in 19 surveys (N = 43,014) on COVID-19 vaccines between January 2020 and August 2022 using dimensions including (1) information sources about COVID-19 vaccine, (2) information about the access, effectiveness, and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine, (3) COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (i.e. false perception, skepticism, and vaccine refusal), (4) motivations to get the COVID-19 vaccine (i.e. to perform routine activities, convenience, incentives, influences, and travel requirement), (5) false perceptions caused vaccine refusal, and (6) intentions to get vaccinated. Our results show that vaccine refusal was rampant throughout the pandemic and mostly attributed to the …

Examining Teachers’ Experiences In Fostering Social-Emotional Learning After Returning To In-Person Instruction In The Midst Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Rosario Grajeda

Dissertations

Purpose: This qualitative phenomenological study examines how middle school teachers in Riverside County, California, support the social-emotional learning (SEL) needs of students as students returned to in-person instruction after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: This qualitative study explores how Riverside County middle school teachers addressed students' social and emotional needs upon returning to in-person learning after COVID-19. Twelve teachers from local public middle schools (grades 6-8) participated in semi-structured interviews, answering ten questions. Data from interviews and artifacts were transcribed and analyzed using NVIVO software to identify recurring themes related to the study questions. Findings: The shared experiences of participants and …

Table Of Contents

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Table of Contents for Volume 7, Number 1 (2024)

A Personal Touch: Intergovernmental Organizations And The Mechanism For Mayor-To-Mayor Relationships, Matthew L. Howell

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Much of the research on intergovernmental cooperation starts with cities that are already in a relationship or are co-participants in an intergovernmental organization and then look at which relationships get developed into cooperative agreements. In this article, four potential methods by which local officials might form those precursor relations are tested. First, cities work within a network context where intergovernmental organizations might matter for several reasons. The intergovernmental organization might reflect similarity in the organizations, called homophily. Second and third, existing intergovernmental organizations may matter directly by serving as a social focus, or a Tertius Iungens. Finally, the professionalism of …

The Impact Of Regional Attachment On Interpersonal Trust, Joel Turner, Jeff Kash, Scott Lasley

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

How much individuals trust others politically, and who they trust, remains an intriguing question for social science researchers. Previous research indicates that levels of political trust demonstrated by individuals often vary based on a variety of factors, such as gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, ideology, and partisanship. However, one area of political trust that has remained surprisingly unexplored has been the impact of regional identity, particularly among Southerners. My theory is that, similar to the manner in which the aforementioned markers work, Southern regional identity activates stereotypes regarding trustworthiness and, thus, influences inter-regional trust decisions. As a result, …

Hidden Outsiders On The Inside: Exploring The Impact Of Trust In Government On Trump Voters In 2016 And 2020 Elections, Philip (Hayden) Terry Iii

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

This paper investigates the relationship between trust in government and the likelihood of voting for political outsider candidates, focusing on Donald Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Existing scholarship notes that outsider candidates typically occur outside of the two major parties in the United States. These outsider candidates typically draw in protest votes, representing dissatisfaction with the existing political establishment. Voter calculations therefore changed once Trump became the Republican nominee for president, a major party. The theory that Trump acted as a third-party candidate within a major party is thus proposed. The central thesis posits that as individuals' political …

Trauma-Informed Care Within Neurodivergent Populations, Adrianna Black

Counselor Education Capstones

The recognition and understanding of what is commonly viewed as neurodivergent diagnoses have broadened significantly in recent years. However, the process of diagnosing individuals who may be considered both neurodivergent and have experienced a traumatic event has presented issues for people in the neurodivergent community. Applying trauma-informed care approaches in counseling will highlight the importance of considering how traumas influence clients’ past and current behaviors and their impact on access to services and meeting milestones within developmental stages. This paper will explore the minimal research on and the need for more research to be done on trauma-informed interventions used with …

Rorschach Profiles In Children: Cluster Analytically Derived Subgroups Based On The Revised- Comprehensive System Variables, Marissa Diaco

ETD Collection

This study examined the development of an empirically derived subgroups for Rorschach Comprehensive System - Revised (Exner, 1974; Exner, 2003; Fontan et al., 2022) protocols, consistent with Exner’s framework, in a sample of 2,727 children aged five–12 in a psychiatric inpatient setting. A cluster analysis of Rorschach variables (Constriction Index, Perceptual Thinking Index [PTI], Depression Index [DEPI], Coping Deficit Index [CDI], and D score) identified 15 distinct profile types. The resulting clusters were organized into distinct psychological dimensions, including Impaired Reality Testing (Clusters 6, 7, 10, 11, 12), Coping Vulnerabilities (Clusters 2, 5, 13), Constriction with Minimal Interpretive Yield (Clusters …

Strategies Business Owners Use To Comply With Federal State And Local Taxes, Olohigbe O. Abaya

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tax regulations are constantly changing, increasing complexity for business owners to meet federal, state, and local obligations. Non-compliance can lead to severe consequences, including fines, legal action, and damage to a company’s reputation. Grounded in the planned behavior theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore practical steps small business owners take to comply with federal, state, and local tax requirements. Participants were seven business leaders in the United States. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, as well as a review of public websites and documents. Through thematic analysis, three themes were identified: professional assistance, …

Creating A Digital House Of Knowledge: Ensuring The Continuation And Integrity Of Indigenous Knowledge Transfers In The Digital Era, Jacquelyn C. Cordova

Indigenous Studies

Traditional Indigenous knowledge transfer systems have contributed to the sustainability of highly advanced Indigenous societies since time immemorial. These systems have been purposefully targeted since European arrival to the Americas in the late 1400s and early 1500s, consequently creating barriers for Indigenous Peoples as they strive to conduct their traditional knowledge transfer processes within their communities. These barriers, paired with the continual rise and use of global technologies, have created circumstances where many Native Elders and Knowledge Keepers experience difficulty reaching their youth and community members to ensure the successful transfer of Indigenous data and knowledge to current and future …

A Comparative Analysis Of Diversity Statements In Public And Private Higher Education Institutions, Andrew Julian Aquino

Communication

This study undertakes a comparative analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) statements from public and private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United States (U.S.). Employing qualitative thematic and comparative analysis, the research examines how these HEIs articulate and communicate their DEI commitments, with particular attention to the use of actionable language and communication strategies. Grounded in Social Change Theory, the study theorizes the potential role of DEI statements in fostering institutional transformation and advancing social justice. Guided by two primary research questions — (RQ1) What external factors are reflected in the language of the DEI statements of public …

Healing Education, Nurturing Through Writing: Autonomic & Somatic Nervous System Social-Emotional Learning Techniques For Writing And Their Application In Cultural Translation, Dafna Rica Ezran-Young

Education

Alaska school districts have provided structured, district-led social-emotional learning since the 1990s. The Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning website showcases the Anchorage School District’s program, highlighting its standards and early initiatives as models for districts across the nation to emulate when developing and implementing their programs. Yet, K-12 social-emotional learning programs have failed to adequately support Alaskan students. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, two urban Alaskan school districts have adopted a supplementary strategy: they contract with outside agencies to provide mental health services on site at schools. Some schools have modified the social-emotional learning paradigm to increase cultural responsiveness …

Exploration Of The Gap Between The Secure Web Application Development Competencies Needed By Industry And Those Competencies Provided By Graduates Of U.S. Undergraduate Software Engineering Programs, Gary Allen Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Literature demonstrates that threats and attacks on computer systems and networks have been around since the beginning of computing, and the number, severity, sophistication, and costs of attacks and data breaches are continuing to grow. Several studies suggest that one of the most common causes of data breaches is insecure web applications that contain vulnerable application code. These studies suggest that poor secure web application development practices are a prime cause of the susceptible web applications. Additionally, studies suggest that higher education is not meeting industry’s secure software/web application development needs. Employers have reported that they are not getting the …

A Review Of Literature Regarding Use Of Bloom’S Taxonomy Of Educational Objectives In The Context Of Writing Education, James Herrod

Theses and Dissertations

Under theory of composition instruction or literacy instruction has Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives developed into a tool for lesson scaffolding? How are learning taxonomies, with a sharper focus on Bloom’s Taxonomy, being used? An adjacent question: How has Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives influenced the development of tools like “Marzano’s Higher-Order Thinking Questions” or “Webb’s Depth of Knowledge”? Here, the line of research questioning may be understood through a Fabergé egg analogy. This analogy can explain individual, relational, and macro structures that work toward literacy and synthesis. Like a Faberge egg, each level of writing and literacy instruction should …

“The Dead Cold Light Of Tomorrow”: Historical Grief In Literature In The Aftermath Of Influenza, Caitlin Liana Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

During the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, commonly referred to as The Spanish Flu, somewhere between 20 and 100 million lives were lost globally, but this tragedy has faded from history in many Western cultures. World War I, while far less deadly, has been memorialized far more frequently and has been overshadowing the devastation of the pandemic since its inception. The grief that survivors experienced–for loved ones and for themselves–was not given an external outlet and as a result there are few contemporary historical sources to turn to when looking for evidence of that grief. In the absence of more traditional …