Digital Commons Network^™

More Than A Zip Code: Addressing Home Factors Influencing Kindergarten Readiness Levels, Julie Baker Finck Ph. D., Allison Shea

Journal of Family Strengths

Families and primary caregivers play an important role in developing essential emergent literacy skills of children from birth so that they are ready for kindergarten and have a strong foundation for future academic success. This article explores factors that influence the emergent literacy development process and offers strategies to boost school readiness levels and literacy rates among children.

The Importance Of Maintaining A Heritage Language While Acquiring The Host Language, Anna L. Vallance

Honors College Theses

Few issues are as relevant to modern education as the topic of bilingual students. As the school-age population in the United States becomes increasingly diverse, teachers and other educational professionals need to know how they can best serve their English learners (students who speak a first language other than English). A common question that many educators grapple with is what role a student’s heritage language (native language) ought to play in the classroom. Specifically, how important is it that students maintain their heritage language? By critically reviewing the existing literature relating to the subject, this article strives to answer that …

Social Emotional Learning And Mindfulness: Learning To Be Human, Jena-Lee Rogers

Master's Projects and Capstones

I am a teacher. I always have been and always will be. As a little girl, I developed a passionate need to see fairness and justice in my world, which of course outside of my family of origin revolved around my life at school. If one of my friends could not understand something, even if I was not totally sure about it myself, I would endeavor to help them learn it in a way that made sense to them. A small act of friendship helped me learn and develop my own a belief in the oneness that connects all of …

Reduced A1c Levels Through Diabetes Self-Management Strategies In The Teen Population: A Systematic Review, Nicole O'Neil

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project utilized current evidence-based practices to improve the diabetes education in the endocrine clinic for the adolescent population ages 15-18. Based on a clinic audit, an average hA1C level of 8.1% was revealed. The goal was to decrease these levels from 8.1% to 7.9% within 90 days through the implementation of the revised diabetes brochure. Evidence suggests the following: DSME improves clinical outcomes and quality of life; an A1C level >7% is associated with increased risks of complications ; teaching aimed at lowering glycemic levels have decreased numerous complications; there is a need to ensure age appropriate, family-centered care, …

Assisting School Personnel With Youth Transitioning From Residential Treatment To A School Environment, Kristi Smith

Counseling

The following research project examines the data and literature regarding youth who reside in residential treatment centers for behavior and mental health purposes. The paper introduces common risk factors that youth are experiencing which contribute to their placement in the facilities, as well as the difficulties they face upon exiting the treatment program. This project explores how schools can assist students in the transition from residential treatment to a school setting using a bio-ecological model that supports the students on an individual level up to a systemic level. School counselors serve as a key point of contact for transitioning students …

Preserving Personhood In Individuals With Cognitive Impairment: A Caregiver's Role, Maren Legg

Honors Projects

This project consists of an educational program for informal caregivers in the Bowling Green community on preserving personhood in individuals with cognitive impairments through caregiving experiences. The program was based on a copious amount of research regarding personhood, how personhood relates to individuals experiencing cognitive impairment, and how care provided by caregivers can be provided in a way that promotes and preserves an individual’s personality, personhood, and selfhood.

The program was developed over the span of four months and incorporates models of personhood, behaviors that threaten and preserve or promote personhood, as well as practical suggestions for strategies in how …

Effectiveness Of Iterative Interventions To Increase Research Productivity In One Residency Program., Richard Alweis, Suzanne Wenderoth, Anthony A. Donato

Reading Hospital Internal Medicine Residency

BACKGROUND: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires residency programs to expose residents to research opportunities.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a series of iterative interventions to increase scholarly activity in one internal medicine residency.

METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the effectiveness of a series of interventions to increase resident and faculty scholarly productivity over a 14-year period was performed using quality improvement methodology. Outcomes measured were accepted regional and national abstracts and PubMed indexed manuscripts of residents and faculty.

RESULTS: Initially, regional meeting abstracts increased and then were supplanted by national meeting …

Effectiveness Of Food-Demos To Increase Nutrition Knowledge, Megan Hemmelgarn

Honors Projects

This research investigated the effectiveness of a one-time food-demo at increasing the knowledge and improving the behavior of vegetable and diary consumption in the diets of college-aged females. Participation included a convenience sample of 26 college-aged females living in residence halls at a Bowling Green State University in Northwest Ohio. Testing was delivered before intervention as a baseline of knowledge and diet behavior. Post-testing was delivered immediately after intervention and evaluated any gain in knowledge from the baseline. One-month after intervention, post 2-testing was distributed evaluating retention of knowledge and behavioral change. Overall, participants experienced knowledge gain immediately after intervention …

What Is A Global Experience?, William Gaudelli, Megan J. Laverty

Education and Culture

No abstract provided.

"It's Always With You, That You're Different": Undocumented Students And Social Exclusion, Jean Williams

Political Science

This study focuses on undocumented college students who overcame significant barriers to apply to and attend universities, and once on campus, were forced to conceal their immigration status from staff and peers, struggling to pay tuition without assistance from scholarships or federal loans. The concept of social exclusion is used to understand and explore the barriers to their access to higher education and experiences while in college, relationships to community and governing institutions, and struggles with poverty and discrimination. The Obama Administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative provides the first real possibility to more fully pursue their educational and …

Connect 216 - December 2015

Connect

Click on the DOWNLOAD link to obtain a PDF of this issue

News Capsule, Academy Of Student Pharmacists - University Of The Pacific

News Capsule

No abstract provided.

Duty Hour Limitations And Educational Outcomes: Perspectives From A Community Hospital-Based Family Medicine Residency Program, Maria Eliza Marquise

Theses & Dissertations

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and the American Osteopathic Association introduced new models that established limits on residents’ duty hours in training programs across the United States (Miulli & Valcore, 2010; Philibert & Taradejna, 2011); more stringent limitations were implemented in 2011. If these physician training programs decreased the time residents’ spent in a formal learning environment and utilized experiential learning as one teaching method, did the duty hour limitations affect the residents’ learning outcomes? The purpose of this ex post facto, quantitative study was to determine if there were differences in ITE (In-Training Examination) scores …

Development Of Survey Tool To Evaluate Behavior And Educational Tools Affecting Water Health In Lewiston And Auburn Communities, Caitrin Griffin, Clara Jessup, Julia Dunn, Phillip Dube

Community Engaged Research Reports

The Androscoggin Valley Stormwater Group (AVSWG) has been tasked with the objective of inducing a reduction or elimination of fertilizers and/or pesticides for 15% of college educated residents between the ages of 35-55 in the cities of Lewiston and Auburn by June, 2018. This demographic was chosen as the target of the outreach program because of their financial stability and their relative willingness to change behavior when compared to other age groups.

We produced a survey that targets this same demographic and is meant to evaluate the effectiveness of the AVSWG education outreach program. This deliverable fits into Permit Year …

Blacks In Massachusetts: Comparative Demographic, Social And Economic Experiences With Whites, Latinos, And Asians, James Jennings, Barbara Lewis, Richard O’Bryant, Rachel Bernard, Linda Sprague Martinez, Russell Williams

William Monroe Trotter Institute Publications

This report describes the social and economic, and education status of Blacks in Massachusetts, within a comparative framework with Whites, Asians, and Latino/as. A range of population, household, and economic variables are highlighted under the following categories: Population Characteristics; Families and Households; Education and Schooling; Housing; Health Characteristics; Labor Force, Occupations and Employment; and Income and Poverty. The information presented in this report is based on data from the 2010 Decennial Census; the American Community Survey 2009 – 2013 5 Year Estimates; the American Community Survey 2009-2013 5-Year Estimates Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) as well as PUMS for the …

Renaissance Fair, Richey Piiparinen

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

As Cleveland moves forward as a city on the rise, we risk leaving too many behind. Creating solutions for greater equity may be our best chance at a sustainable future.

Principal Perceptions Of Strategies To Increase Effectiveness Of Educational Non-Governmental Organizations In Southern Belize., Wesley Hickey

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Collaborations among schools and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are common in developing countries. These partnerships have the potential to provide effective support for educational initiatives. This study used survey methodology to determine characteristics of NGOs that increased effectiveness as determined by experienced principals (n=15) within a region of Belize. The survey used open-ended questions, and these responses were disaggregated in order to determine themes. These principals wrote that effective NGOs built strong relationships with the schools, aligned efforts with the school’s mission, and assisted with providing resources.

The Relationship Between Pre-Service Teachers’ Basic Technology Competence, Technology Self-Efficacy And Perceptions Of Adopting Educational Applications On Ipads For Classroom Use, Rebecca Ann Martindale

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

iPads and tablets are the latest technological tools that schools are adopting for classroom use. Yet, according to the Teacher’s Use of Educational Technology in U.S. Public Schools: 2009 Report, 25-50% of the teacher population surveyed report rarely or never using basic classroom technologies (LCD projectors, whiteboards, document cameras and computers) for teaching (Gray, Thomas, & Lewis, 2010). A modified Perceived Characteristics of Innovating (PCI) instrument originally developed by Moore & Benbasat (1991) was used to determine intention to integrate educational applications on iPads for classroom use. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine whether technology competence or technology self-efficacy …

Portion Size Communication By Means Of Package Design, Tami J. Strickland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study assessed consumers’ current methods of determining portion sizing of chicken products and examined their perceptions of how effectively three package designs communicate portion size. Everett M. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (DI) Theory analyzes the characteristics of the consumer of the innovation (adopter) and the impact these characteristics have on adopting new innovations. The innovation in this study will be the prototype packaging. Focusing on Rogers’ adopter characteristics and defined proprietary consumer segmentation characteristics, this study will be pivotal for future package design projects targeting nutrition education.

Focus group questions were scrutinized through a pilot study and revised …

From Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder To Substance Use Disorder: Perspectives From Recovering Addicts, Elena Potovsky

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

People who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often at high risk of acquiring Substance Use Disorder (SUD). When a diagnosis is determined for a school age child, the special education team mainly focuses on the most obvious problems that occur with ADHD: executive function issues, reading and writing impairments, and disruptive behavior. They may not realize how common it is for those identified with ADHD to also acquire SUD.

The literature revealed that there may be a shared genetic basis between ADHD and SUD, that there is commonly an early onset of SUD for those who have ADHD, …

Perceptions Of Agricultural Leadership Academic Programs At 1862 Land-Grant Universities, Jackson Cole Alexander

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to characterize perceptions of agricultural leadership programs in colleges of agriculture, food, life, human, or environmental sciences at 1862 land-grant institutions. Twenty-six academic programs were identified with a major, minor, graduate degree, specialization, concentration, or certificate in agricultural leadership. Programs were identified through analyzing the APLU and USDA NIFA websites, searching academic college websites, and contacting deans and departments heads. Objectives included identifying programs, describing the need for programs, describing evolution that has taken place within the discipline, describing faculty recommendations for future development and growth in the field, and examining why faculty believe programs are relevant. …

The Integration Of Career And Technical Education (Cte) And Academic Curricula: An Effective Model For Teachers, Michael S. Gullett

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Acts from 1990, 1998, and 2006 include federal directives for CTE programs and curriculum to be integrated with academic content. Each reauthorization and review of the Carl D. Perkins Act has provided a more inclusive and expanded definition of integration, with the intention that learning become relevant, rigorous, and effective in preparing students for a career and/or college. My CTE project examines the literature on integration, discusses its important role in CTE, outlines implications to education, and creates an integrated CTE curriculum guidebook and website for teachers. The objective …

Mis-Institutionalization: Accounting Information Systems (Ais) And Decision Making In Higher Education, Cory Allen Campbell

Student Scholarship

The state of higher education is moving from a slow rate of change to a faster rate of change because external expectations are rising. External forces are influencing sources of funding that impact both public and private schools and schools need to react. As institutions of higher learning adapt to change in the external environment, schools must adopt more efficient ways to use information to make strategic decisions. Schools recognize the need to create better use of data and are striving to achieve that, but this study demonstrates that the degree of decentralization prevalent in institutions of higher learning hinders …

An Exploratory Investigation Of Tele-Counseling: Looking At The Power Of Therapeutic Alliance In Improving Wellness, Jorge Rostro

Theses and Dissertations

The present study explored the power of one tele-counseling session to elicit change within post wellness ratings scores and the relationship between clients’ perceptions of relationship, goals and topics, approach and method, and overall session with clients’ wellness ratings. Results indicated that the mean for post-session wellness was significantly greater than pre-test wellness ratings. The standardized effect size, d, was .43, indicative of a moderate effect size. No difference was found between client’s perceptions of predictor variables with post-wellness rating scores. This study adds support for the use of tele-counseling services as one session might have the power to elicit …

An Evidence Based Approach To Sepsis: Educational Program, Dolores Perez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Evidence-based guidelines for recognizing and treating sepsis have been available for decades, yet healthcare providers do not adhere to the recommendations. Sepsis can progress rapidly if not recognized early. Literature reports reveal that sepsis is the leading cause of death in non-cardiac intensive care units (ICUs), and it is one of the most expensive conditions to treat. A hospital in the Las Vegas, Nevada area had previously introduced sepsis management prescriptions in 2011 with no formal education of sepsis guidelines to nurses. The original hospital’s sepsis management prescription sets followed guidelines dated 2008. The purpose of this project was to …

In Defense Of Magic: Using Fantasy Literature In The Classroom, Marisa Florence Cignarella

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

This thesis argues for the greater inclusion of fantasy literature in high school and middle school English classrooms. Through an analysis of the popularity of fantasy series, including recent movies and their widespread pop cultural appeal, this thesis illustrates that fantasy resonates with many readers. A close examination of various works of fantasy literature appropriate to be read in full or excerpted in the classroom demonstrates that fantasy usefully illustrates various literary concepts, such as symbolism, metaphor, allusion, allegory, and character foils; provides clear examples of the hero's journey, which appear in various canonical texts as well as other media; …

Community-Based Rehabilitation Supports For Social Inclusion And Work Participation Of Young Adults With Visual Impairment In Kenya: A Case Study, Philomena Jepkemboi Tanui

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Young adults with a visual impairment (VI) experience less interaction with the community that impacts the way they relate to the world as they transition to the larger society where they face significant barriers of adjustment, exclusion, and work participation. Young adults with VI contend with cultural stigma, inequality, poor self-esteem caused by marginalization, a low quality of life (QOL), and lack of Social support systems that exist beyond the home. The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of young adults with VI in Elgeyo-Marakwet and Kisumu Counties of Kenya concerning the barriers to community inclusion and …

Examining Inequities In Teacher Pension Benefits, James V. Shuls

Education Reform Faculty and Graduate Students Publications

From funding to teacher quality, inequities exist between school districts. This paper adds to the literature on inequities by examining the impact of pension plan formulas on pension benefits. Using data from the salary schedules of 464 Missouri school districts, this paper analyzes how various final average salary calculations would impact the benefits of teachers in different districts. All of the schools in this analysis belong to Missouri’s Public Employee Retirement System, which is a defined-benefit pension plan. A teacher’s benefit in this plan is based on her years of experience and her final average salary. The system uses a …

Satisfaction Of Graduates/Completers Of A Career And Technical Teacher Education In-Service Program: Professional Currency, Sho-Hsien Su

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the learning satisfaction of graduates or completers from the Career and Technical Teacher Education (CTTE) in-service program at a public university in the state of Kansas. The conceptual framework and the survey instrument were adapted from the Performance-Based Teacher Education learning packages and revised based on current educational situations, technologies, and terminologies to measure participants’ learning satisfaction. The participants included 96 career and technical education in-service teachers who had completed their degrees or certificates requirements from the CTTE in-service program between 2004 spring and 2015 summer. An on-line survey was administered by …

Examining Employability As Associated With Ic3, Mos, And Aca Certifications, Kelley Leigh Todd

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Forrier and Sels (2003) define employability as “an individual’s chance of a job on the internal and/or external labor market” (p. 106) and is important (Wittekind, Raeder, & Grote, 2010). Possessing an industry certification may be considered an example of human capital skill. The human capital theory suggests qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience of individuals may lead to increased earnings or productivity (Becker, 1993; Rosen, 1987; Schultz, 1971). As such, the human capital theory provides a framework for studying perceived employability (Wittekind, Raeder, & Grote, 2010; Verhaar & Smulders, 1999) as associated with IC3, MOS, and ACA industry certifications.

Randall …