Digital Commons Network^™

2017 The Role Of Books And Reading In Stem: An Overview Of The Benefits For Children And The Opportunities To Enhance The Field, Vitaliy Popov, Tessa Tinkler

Youth, Education, and Literacy

In April 2017, STEM Next, in partnership with the Hoag Foundation and the Molina Foundation, commissioned the Institute for Entrepreneurship in Education (IEE) and the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research at the University of San Diego to provide an overview of literacy learning within the disciplinary context of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This overview includes (1) a literature review on the benefits of integrating literacy and STEM for elementary and middle-school-aged children, (2) an environmental scan of reading programs, organizations, and materials that focus on Literacy in STEM, and (3) a set of criteria for …

Elementary Teachers’ Grading Practices And Perceptions In Communicating Assessment Of Students, Shannon A. Thoendel

Student Work

Grading reform has been a major focus in school districts across the country (Guskey & Jung, 2012). Reporting student achievement through grades can have a lasting and profound impact on a student’s academic career. Grades are often considered to have little relationship to student performance (Brookhart, 2004; O’Connor 2016). Grading authenticity is reached when the following standards are met: accuracy, consistency, meaningfulness, and supportiveness of the learning environment (O’Connor, 2016). A current movement to standards-based grading is believed to be a more accurate measure of student achievement than a traditional grading system (Guskey, 2001). Standards-based grading systems are believed to …

The Cave Of Education, Kate Flinchbaugh

Agora

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Program Using Both County Coordinator And Extension Volunteer Perspectives, Natalie R. Bumgarner, Joseph L. Donaldson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The Extension Master Gardener (EMG) program is a vital contributor to Tennessee Extension residential and consumer horticulture education and outreach. In 2014, 2,480 volunteers statewide completed service and education requirements to achieve or maintain certified EMG status. These volunteers, led by Tennessee Extension agent county coordinators, contributed over 178,800 hours of service while recording over 30,300 hours of continuing education. These totals illustrate both the contributions of EMG volunteers to horticulture outreach and their desire for education to enhance their own knowledge and skill. Understanding the most needed areas of training for EMG volunteers to support their education and outreach …

Interdisciplinarity And Ignatian Pedagogy, Jose Eos Trinidad

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

interdisciplinary studies, Ignatian pedagogical paradigm, Jesuit higher education, Ignatian spirituality, education

Starting Over Again: Comparing The First And Second Years Of Teaching, Scott Moran

Occasional Paper Series

Moran compares his experience during his first year of teaching with his second. After receiving his M.S.Ed. and completing a very successful first year of teaching, he thought that he had reached an important milestone. However, his confidence was shaken when he began his second year, realizing that the students as individuals and within the group dynamic can vary greatly from class to class. Each group offers new challenges and thus new learning experiences for teachers.

Measuring Up: Standardized Testing And The Making Of Postwar American Identities, 1940-2001, Keegan J. Shepherd

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Standardized testing is a defining feature of contemporary American society. It not only governs how people are channeled through their schooling; it amplifies existing social disparities. Nonetheless, standardized testing endures, namely because it has served as a vital tool for the post-1945 American state. The postwar state prioritized, on the one hand, the cultivation of intellects resilient enough to sustain American geopolitical supremacy through scientific discovery and technological innovation and, on the other hand, the maintenance of an obedient population that would not disrupt existing social hierarchies. Standardized testing helped the postwar state solve this mind-body dilemma. As a function …

Pots: Educating School Nurses, Stephanie Sherwood

Doctoral Dissertations and Scholarly Projects

The project used educational modules as a means for providing knowledge about postural orthostatic tachycardia (POTS) to school nurses. It evaluated knowledge of symptoms and the referral process. A pre and post-test were used immediately prior to and following an educational module to determine gained knowledge about POTS. Participants completed a survey evaluating their perceived knowledge and comfort level to evaluate POTS symptoms and refer patients for further evaluation. One hundred percent of participants demonstrated improvement in their post-test score confirming knowledge gained in all participants. All participants reported that the modules helped them about POTS, and they felt confident …

Systems-Based Training In Graduate Medical Education For Service Learning In The State Legislature In The United States: Pilot Study, Shikhar H. Shah, Maureen D. Clark, Kimberly Hu, Jalene A. Shoener, Joshua Fogel, William C. King, James Ronayne

Publications and Research

Background: There is a dearth of advocacy training in graduate medical education in the United States. To address this void,the Legislative Education and Advocacy Development (LEAD) course was developed as an interprofessional experience, partnering a cohort of pediatrics residents, fourth-year medical students, and public health students to be trained in evidence-informed health policy making.

Objective: The objective of our study was to evaluate the usefulness and acceptability of a service-based legislative advocacy course.

Methods: We conducted a pilot study using a single-arm pre-post study design with 10 participants in the LEAD course. The course’s didactic portion taught learners how …

The Danger Of Unqualified Dance Instruction In Private Dance Studios And Social Media, Angelina M. Pellini

The Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research

While dance classes have become a popular activity for children in the United States, most people are unaware of what constitutes “quality” dance instruction. This idea has been addressed at a collegiate level yet the lack of standards for dance instruction at the studio level has been overlooked. This research draws attention to this issue and the need for a potential solution to the problem. The project strives to answer these questions: Is there a trend between the lack of standards for dance education and the prevalence of injuries in young dancers? If so, is there a way to address …

Strategy For Introducing Population Health In Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum, Dolores R. Dzubaty

Biennial Convention (CONV)

This poster presentation will illustrate utilizing unfolding case studies in undergraduate childbearing family curriculum to introduce concepts of population health. An example of learning activity will be provided. Knowledge gained is then applied when planning implementing care for the described patient.

The Impact Of Information Literacy Instruction On Student Success: A Multi-Institutional Investigation And Analysis, Joni Blake, Melissa Bowles-Terry, N. Shirlene Pearson, Zoltan Szentkiralyi

Central University Libraries Research

The GWLA Student Learning Outcomes task force analyzed the data from over 42,000 first-time, first-year freshmen and over 1700 distinct courses from 12 research institutions to determine the impact(s) of information literacy instruction integrated into course curriculum on several student success measures.

Key findings include:

• Student retention rates are higher for those students whose courses include an information literacy instruction component.
• On average, First-Year GPA for students whose courses included information literacy instruction was higher than the GPA of students whose courses did not.
• Students exposed to library instruction interactions successfully completed 1.8 more credit hours per year than their …

Collaborative Learning: Making Group Work Effective, Jamie Elizabeth Adam

Biennial Convention (CONV)

In this session, best practices for collaborative learning will be explored. Information on building strategic teams that foster critical thinking, pre-class preparation activities, and sample application activities for group work will be shared. Topics such as peer evaluation, group testing and grade evaluation will be explored.

Moments, Tiffany Bouchard

Theses and Dissertations from 2017

Moments is a series of creative nonfiction essays depicting life with a child who is severely autistic. I compare events from my life prior to having children with life events after I became a mother. My goal is to present a side of autism that is not always seen – the meltdowns, the aggression, the injurious behavior. My desire is to show that, despite the obstacles this life has presented us with, I have been able to experience life with a beautiful, misunderstood human who has changed my life for the better.

Fall 2017, Augustana College, Rock Island Illinois

Tackle Box

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports And School Climate/Culture In Elementary Schools, Zaheerah Nadiyah El-Amin

Doctoral Dissertations

Based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates, weakened climate/culture, decreased academic scores, and endangered job security, the implementation of a successful behavioral intervention program within the school setting was a necessity (Homer & Sugai, 2000). Quantitative data were obtained from two assessment tools, the School-wide Evaluation Tool (SET) and the School Climate Assessment Instrument (SCAI). To determine the levels of implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and if there were significant differences in the levels of the participating schools' climate and culture, the following research questions were answered: (a) What is the level of implementation …

Local Implementation Effectiveness Of A Multi-Tier System Of Support In Elementary School Settings, Terry P. Houlton

Student Work

Ensuring all students learn at high levels is demanding. Multi-tier systems of supports (MTSS) has shown promise as a way to promote high levels of learning for all students while catching students who are struggling to learn. However, implementing MTSS models in school districts and schools has seen its challenges. The context of an individual school impacts efforts related to implementation especially related to implementing a system such as MTSS. During the 2016-2017 school year, using program theory-driven evaluation methods a program theory for MTSS was developed with input from members of the research school district. Then a questionnaire was …

Obstetricians' And Gynecologists' Knowledge, Education, And Practices Regarding Chronic Hepatitis B In Pregnancy., Bolin Niu, Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, Jonathan M. Fenkel, Steven K. Herrine

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Background: In pregnant women with high viral loads, third-trimester initiation of antiviral agents can reduce the risk of vertical transmission. We aimed to assess obstetricians' and gynecologists' (OB-GYN) knowledge and clinical practice when treating pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: All program directors (PDs) from 250 US OB-GYN residency programs were invited to anonymously complete an 18-item questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated and analyzed.

Results: A total of 323 participants responded, including both PDs (n=51, response rate 21%) and residents (n=272, response rate 11%). Responding PDs (62% university-based vs. 32% community-based) came from various practice types. All …

Charles Ballard Interview, Justin Carinci

External Papers and Reports

Professor Charles Ballard of Michigan State University delivered the lecture “The Fall and Rise of Income Equality in the United States” Sept. 27, 2017 as part of the Werner Sichel Lecture Series at Western Michigan University. Ballard detailed the “Great Convergence” of income equality in the United States that grew out of policies of the 1930s and 1940s and a “Great Divergence” of inequality starting about 1980. Ballard called this income gap, which is now greater than during the Gilded Age, “the largest economic phenomenon of our lifetimes.”

Open Source: The Enewsletter Of Rwu Law 09-22-2017, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Re-Envisioning Kindergarten Learning Spaces In The U.S Education System, Suhina Agarwal

Theses

The thesis work aims at improving the learning environments of the Kindergarten classrooms in the United States by taking inspiration from a very simple and popular play element namely the ‘blocks’. The classroom environments and learning methods have not seen a significant change since the time of the Industrial Revolution. The essence of school education remains the same, which is expected to be a closed classroom, conventional furniture and the teacher determining the learning activities. With the changing times, as new studies on multiple styles of learning and brain functions emerge, there is a need to customize education and cater …

Measuring The Longitudinal Communication Growth Of Learners Who Are Deafblind, Kristi M. Probst

Theses and Dissertations

The field of deafblind (DB) education has a long and rich history which includes a lack of qualified personnel to meet the needs of the population of learners. In addition, the literature base is small, lacking evidence for effective practices or methods of assessing and tracking growth with these learners. The ability to adequately track student growth is key when IEP teams are making educational decisions. Therefore, it is important to investigate the longitudinal growth of learners who are DB and the possible effects of service provision (number, type, and intensity) on communication growth. This research began the process of …

Emergent Catholicity: Forming The Mind Of Vincent, Scott Kelley Ph.D.

Vincentian Studies

Vincent de Paul has been perceived as anti-intellectual for reasons that are discussed in this article, but his two degrees, especially the one from the University of Toulouse, profoundly influenced his thinking. His education developed his logic, making him “a formidable theologian,” an excellent organizer, and an effective advocate for poor persons. The article traces the medieval university’s influence on Vincent’s university experience. Logic’s importance in the theology curriculum and the way it was taught are described. Since Vincent’s degree allowed him to teach from the seminal Book II of Peter Lombard’s Sentences, Lombard’s writings are contextualized within those …

Investigation In The Use Of Video Technology With Adults With Moderate Intellectual Disability, To Teach Culinary Arts Using Self- Modelling And Overt Auditory Self-Prompting In Their Own Home, Mark William Farrell

Theses, Doctoral

Investigation in the use of video technology with adults with moderate intellectual disability, to teach culinary arts using self- modelling and overt auditory selfprompting in their own home An important rationale of special education, from an adult perspective, is to support people with intellectual disability to live independently. The Government’s central policy objective for people with disabilities is contained in ‘Towards 2016’ and states that they should be supported to lead full and independent lives. This presents many challenges for adult educators in building the skill set for individuals to reach this goal, especially for people with learning difficulties and …

Knowledge And Attitudes Of Orthopedic Nurses Regarding Pain Management, Matthew Neumann

Doctoral Dissertations and Scholarly Projects

Nurses are at the forefront in the care of patient pain management; however, many nurses do not possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for best pain management outcomes. Adequate pain management education is often infrequent in academic settings and in post-graduate health care environments. That shortcoming suggests a need to improve pain management education as advocated by The Joint Commission and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this study is to measure 20 nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain and pain management while working in an orthopedic setting. It was an evidence-based practice project utilizing …

The Aftermath Of Detroit's Economic Decline And The Exodus Of Urban Teachers: A Phenomenology, Melissa Holtzhouse

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the decision-making process of teachers, Kindergarten through twelfth grade, who left the urban setting in metropolitan Detroit. The theories that guided this study were Rotter’s locus of control and Condorcet’s decision theory as they investigated the experiences leading to teachers’ decisions to leave the urban setting within metropolitan Detroit. Four research questions were included (a) How do select teachers, Kindergarten through twelfth grade, describe the decision-making process they underwent before leaving urban education in metropolitan Detroit? (b) How do participants describe their experiences prior to their decision to leave urban education …

School Resources And Student Outcomes: Evidence From The State Of Illinois, Alyssa Cooper

Student Research – Stevenson Center

Literature on the subject of school resources and student outcomes tends to find that there is a positive relationship between both variables. Most literature uses per-pupil spending (PPS) or teacher salaries as a measure of school resources. While I have modeled both in my paper, my focus in this paper is on per-pupil spending. Using data from the Illinois State Board of Education from 2006-2016 and measuring student outcomes through average ACT scores, operational PPS is found to be insignificant, whereas instructional PPS is found to be positive and significant at the 5% level. Estimates suggest that a 1 standard …

Influence Of Scaling Up Nutrition Education Towards Knowledge And Attitude Of Students At Santa Elisabeth Medan School Of Health Sciences, Rani Gartika Holivia Silalahi, Yesschi Anggraeni Tambunan

Kesmas

Tingginya angka pernikahan pada usia remaja yang disertai dengan rendahnya pengetahuan tentang pola asuh merupakan salah satu pemicu terjadinya masalah gizi. Remaja merupakan orang tua masa depan. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh pendidikan 1.000 hari pertama kehidupan terhadap pengetahuan dan sikap mahasiswi Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Santa Elisabeth Medan tahun 2016. Penelitian ini menggunakan kuasi eksperimental dengan desain one group pre- dan post test. Metode pengambilan sampel dengan metode purposive sampling sebanyak 115 mahasiswi tingkat III program studi Diploma III Kebidanan. Pendidikan dilakukan di kelas sebanyak 4 kali dalam 2 minggu dengan menggunakan metode mengajar dan diskusi. Penelitian ini …

2017 Fall Faculty Conference: Telling Our Stories, Demonstrating Excellence In Teaching, Academic Affairs

Fall Faculty Conference

The 2017 Fall Faculty Conference featured teaching showcases by Kyriacos Aristotelous (Business, Accounting, and Economics), Phyllis Lynne Burns (English), Terry Hermsen (English), Mike Hudoba (Engineering), and Leesa Kern (Sociology, Criminology, and Justice Studies).

Breakout sessions followed.

Community-Based Asthma Intervention Programs And Their Impact On Childhood Health Outcomes And Burdens On The Healthcare System, Danika Ng

Master's Projects and Capstones

Since 1997, asthma prevalence rates have increased by 3% annually, leading to a current rate of 18.4 million adults and 6.2 million children with asthma, high hospitalization and emergency department visit rates, and an overall healthcare spending of 50 billion dollars. However, this increase in prevalence is disproportionately impacting children. Asthma is the third leading cause for hospitalization in children, have higher proportions of children being hospitalized with asthma symptoms, and have higher rates of asthma attacks. Recent literature shows that perceived lack of adequate education in areas such as medication adherence, medical device usage, asthma trigger avoidance, lack of …