Digital Commons Network^™

Positive Communication Across The Lifespan: Early Childhood Aces To Vias, Adam Pyecha

College of Arts and Letters Posters

Felitti et al., (1985; 1998) developed Adverse Childhood Experiences test (ACEs), after researching adults suffering from obesity and addictive overeating. Positive correlations were linked with traumatic childhood experiences, such as severe physical, sexual and mental abuse with those participants struggling with obesity. ACEs is widely accepted in the field of psychology, proving individuals with higher ACEs scores indicate higher probability for mental illness and high risk deviant like substance abuse and felony crime. Identifying students with high ACEs before entering grade school may give educators and institutions the ability positively alter character and behavior outcomes of these victimized children. Nicholson, …

Preservice Teachers’ Strategies For Interpreting Fractions Represented In Discrete And Continuous Models, Victoria Webster

Transformations: Research Papers

Teaching and learning fractions have been a focus of research in mathematics education for decades. Current practices of teaching fractions emphasize the partitioning perspective, or part-whole, to conceptualize fractions. Another approach to teaching fractions is measurement. The part-whole approach limits students’ conceptualization of fractions and impedes learning improper fractions, whereas the measurement approach has the potential to overcome these difficulties and supports learning improper fractions. In this study, 55 preservice teachers engaged in an intervention to reexamine fractions using a measurement perspective. Before and after the intervention, the preservice teachers were asked to interpret proper and improper fractions using discrete …

The National Socialists And How They Ostracized An Entire Population, Kathryn Weber

Geifman Prize in Holocaust Studies

In this paper, I analyze how the National Socialists ostracized the Jews before the start of World War II. I also discuss the importance of teaching students about this topic in US schools in a way that promotes historical inquiry, historical empathy, and critical thinking skills. There is an attached lesson plan that I did with 6th-grade students to provide an example of one way to teach students about the Holocaust. Here is my thesis for the paper:

"By examining laws passed by the Reichstag, the organization of the ghettos and the camps, the German education system, correspondence between …

Introducing Homeschooling Students To The Librarian Profession And Personality Types, Paul Mclaughlin

Law Library Faculty Scholarship

Published as a chapter in Homeschooling and Libraries: New Solutions and Opportunities edited by Vera Gubnitskaia and Carol Smallwood.

Identifying Opportunities For Educators To Pursue Collaboration At The Interface Of Nursing And Engineering -- And A Word Of Caution, Daniel B. Oerther, Patricia Yoder-Wise, Beverly Malone

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

"The Wonderful World Of Dr. Seuss Club", Meagan Heimbrecht, Charlie Croteau, Kylee Sodomka

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Exploring the world through Dr. Seuss! A club geared for young elementary schoolers in hopes of promoting reading and curiosity! From Oobleck to puppets to writing their own book, this club is simple yet takes a student on a new adventure every week!

Basics Of Stepping Club, Hana Pham, Yara Madit

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Originating in West Africa in the 1500s, step has since evolved into a form of dancing that places emphasis on rhythmic movements and high energy. It is commonly used amongst greek organizations and within schools. This club introduces stepping to older children through activities such as stamina, focus, teamwork, and problem solving.

Stories That Shape Us, Lauren Dubas

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

This club is a Mythology Club that explores popular greek myths through fun and interactive activities. These actives are designed with 4th and 5th graders in mind, and are meant to provide an interesting way to interact with the mythology material presented during each lesson. The lessons do not build off of one another, and can be used in any order and still retain understanding of that myth.

"History Of Nebraska Club", Allison Metschke, Hailey Just

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

This club is designed to educate young kids on the history of Nebraska. Topics cover a wide variety of ideas, including: the Oregon Trail, Native Americans, teepees, tribes, clothing, buffalo, Chimney Rock, Homestead National Monument, how Nebraska became a state, and general information about Nebraska.

Periodic Table Club, Makayla Gill, Kailynn Jensen

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

This club is dedicated to teaching the generation of future scientists the periodic table. This is designed to be a unique take on a STEM club that uses the periodic table as a backbone for a solid foundation in chemistry.

Change The Conversation: A Study Of Mental Health Education And College Aged Students Attitudes’ Towards Mental Illness, Bryan J. Landgren

Community Engagement Student Work

Researchers have found that public opinion of people who are mentally ill or struggle with their own mental health are often negative. This project was created in an effort to determine the most efficient way to engage people in conversations about mental health and the stigma that encompasses such a conversation. What happens when mental health struggles are visible and supported through open and honest communication? What happens when they are not? The workshop Change the Conversation: Attitudes Towards Mental Health aimed to close the gap surrounding mental health education on a college campus and promote the necessity of understanding …

Time To Play: The Relationship Between Time Spent Playing And Educational Outcomes In Peru, Jasmine Davidson

Economics Honors Projects

Every day, children around the world are playing. There has been plenty of research on the importance of different kinds of play, but very little on the importance of the quantity of play. Understanding the relationship between educational outcomes and the amount of time spent playing would allow parents to better structure their children’s time and would settle the debate between psychologists and economists on whether play has inherent value for a child’s future outcomes. I focus on Peru because conducting this research in a developing country context broadens the current research mostly focused on high-income countries. Using child-level, longitudinal …

Writing Systems As A Reflection Of Ancient Societies, Sarah M. Gripshover

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the writing systems of two ancient societies: the Latin alphabet as a writing system within the Roman Empire and the hieroglyphic writing system within the Maya city-state. This thesis first situates writing as a technology and explains the common uses of writing systems in modern contexts, before turning to an examination of the past. Next, basic literary patterns—including estimated literacy rates, education patterns and opportunities, types of documents, and themes within writing—are examined within the context of both societies. After evaluating these literary patterns, as well as the social, political, and economic organization of both societies, this …

Incorporating Fine Arts Into Online Education, Tosha Tessen Mcdonald

Masters Theses

Art Education has seen many changes. One of the most recent changes in art education has been the step into online learning. The question I sought to answer was whether or not art education could be delivered in the same rigorous manner online as it can be in a traditional school setting. During the 2019 - 2020 school year, I started a position teaching for the Rural Virtual Academy, in which all instruction was delivered online. During my own practice, I researched methods to instruct students virtually. My results indicate that it is quite possible to deliver a rigorous curriculum …

K-12 Latina Immigrant Leaders’ Experiences Within Minnesota, Gabriela Theis

Doctorate in Education

The purpose of this qualitative study, employing a case study design, from a population of K-12 leaders located in an urban area of the state of Minnesota, was to explore the phenomenon of Latina immigrants, all who were non-native English speakers, in K-12 leadership positions. Latina immigrants have not achieved proportionate representation in K-12 leadership positions in school systems in Minnesota which might be losing the opportunity to add the Hispanic leadership perspective to solve critical educational issues in the 21st-century educational system. Latinas, both immigrants and non-immigrants, are not well represented when compared with other racial groups. The following …

The Common Core State Standards In Mathematics For Place Value: Developmentally Appropriate Or Not?, Sarah N. Hughey

Masters Theses

This exploratory case study examines the developmental appropriateness of the Common Core State Standards in Mathematics (CCSSM) for place value for second through fourth-grade students. A correlation analysis was performed on end of year scores from the 2018-19 school year on a standardized norm-referenced test and a conceptually-based interview assessment from the Math Recovery program (AVMR) on 137 students from one school in the Midwest. An item analysis was also performed on AVMR assessments for 70 students from the 2019-20 school year. The results showed that second and third-grade students did not display the expected amount of growth in conceptual …

Making Health Education Healthier: How Medical Schools Use Bias Training And Intersectional Theory To Reduce Implicit Bias, Madeleine N. Miller

Student Publications

Medical bias has been successfully characterized through two-way bias theory and the concept of the "normal body" and further divided into implicit and explicit bias. Yet, many individuals who go to the doctor are still given insufficient care because of their gender, race, class, sexuality, etc. Medical Education offers a unique opportunity for bias reduction both through formal and informal training. It is crucial that, as they are taught how to save a patient’s life, medical students are also taught to empathize with all patients and to give every patient, regardless of their gender, skin color, or class, the most …

Learning With Friends: A Rational View Of Remote Learning With Network Externalities In The Time Of Covid-19., Paul John M. Pena

Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies (AKI)

The authors provide a rational view of the issue of online learning in the time of coronavirus and cite necessary conditions that must be considered to make remote learning optimal, inclusive and engaging for students and faculty. Featuring a model of human capital accumulation with network externalities, the policy brief maintains that "...in the time of coronavirus, learning need not be quarantined, too."

Health Care And Plains Native Americans: Striving Towards A Culturally Competent Medical School Curriculum, Benjamin M. Jacobs

Honors Thesis

My honors thesis will explore the curriculum at the USD Sanford School of Medicine (SSOM). I plan to examine the curriculum for cultural competence and diversity education, specifically on Native (American Indian/Alaskan Native) peoples. My primary goal is to increase the educational importance the Sanford School of Medicine places on the culture of all groups, especially, Native peoples. My topic is important because diversity and inclusion are essential parts to creating a unified team. Furthermore, this topic is especially relevant here in South Dakota due to the number of Native peoples in the state. South Dakota has the fourth highest …

A Phenomenological Study Of North Carolina Elementary Teachers' Lived Experiences With Google Classroom Integration, Hilary Elizabeth Dodson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand North Carolina elementary school teachers’ perceptions of Google Classroom technology integration as a lived experience. Google Classroom is a learning management system and component of the technology integration that many teachers use to organize their classroom content. The discovery learning theory by Bruner guided this study. The problem of this study was North Carolina elementary teachers experience difficulties integrating technology, using applications like Google Classroom, in combination with more traditional curriculum and instructional strategies. The central research question was: What are North Carolina elementary teachers’ perceptions of the ways in …

Racial-Ethnic Differences In Punitiveness Among American Adults, Helena Pittroff

Honors Projects

It is believed that the punitive values of the United States have had a direct positive correlation with the mass incarceration rates experienced in the United States. Many studies have attempted to understand variation in punitiveness across social groups, and have found that there are consistent racial differences that exist. Past research mostly focused on differences between Black and White individuals, but none has included the analysis of those of Hispanic origin. Using pooled data from the 2014, 2016, and 2018 General Social Survey (N = 7,753), the current project examines racial/ethnic differences in punitiveness for White, Black, and Hispanic …

Pro-Life And Pro-Choice: What Shapes The Debate Over Abortion In America?, Kevin S. Ganjon

Student Publications

The topic of abortion in the United States of America is one that is surrounded by immense political controversy, particularly surrounding the legality of the practice. While some individuals believe in varying levels of freedom of choice, many others believe that the overall practice is unjust and wrong in most, or all circumstances. What are some of the underlying factors that may shape an individual’s stance on abortion? This research paper examines various significant factors such as religiosity, level of education, and age with regards to their potential correlation with an individual’s stance on abortion. By examining this data, this …

Honoring Patient Do Not Resuscitate Wishes And Reducing Harm During Transitions Of Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Emily L. Kraus

Doctoral Projects

Objectives: The quality improvement project objectives were to honor documented Do Not Resuscitate wishes in emergency departments by examining and improving workflow during primary care to emergency department transitions. A location for advance care planning documentations was designated for advanced directives, yet not utilized.

Methods: Mixed method, pre-/post-comparison, and thematic design examined clinicians and patients in a primary care office and two emergency departments in a Midwest healthcare system. Data was collected from patient records, clinician surveys, and observation of workflow. Descriptive statistics, frequency counts and non-parametric tests were used to analyze data.

Results: Patient charts were audited (N=261 [pre=124; …

Gender Equality, Education, And Development : Tensions Between Global, National, And Local Policy Discourses In Postcolonial Contexts, Naureen Durrani, Anjum Halai

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Being Global Means More Than Traveling Around The Globe … So, What Does It Mean?, Corinne Brion

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

Being global means more than traveling around the globe. Being global means having a culturally proficient mindset. Having a culturally proficient mindset involves celebrating and advocating for diversity and being willing to face our own conscious and unconscious biases while also accepting the fact that some of us are born privileged. I know I was born in and with privileges. I accept that I have biases because of cultural and familial values and beliefs.

This reflection is a product of teaching a course for future school leaders on diversity in schools, my own educational and leadership journey, and my passion …

Japanese-English Translation: Kitaōji Rosanjin—Character (1953), Christopher Southward

Comparative Literature Faculty and Student Scholarship

日英翻訳書：「個性」、北大路魯山人著、サウスワード・クリストファー（南方）訳

Shuji Isawa And Bridgewater State Normal School, 1875-1878, Charles C. Cox Iii

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Saudi Arabian Science Teachers And Formative Assessment In The Gender Segregated Male School System, Khalid Abdullah Kariri

Dissertations

Formative assessment is a key pedagogical tool that allows teachers to make instructional assessments in real time for the improvement of student learning. It gives students the opportunity to provide evidence of their learning thus giving teachers assurances that their hard work is not in vain. Formative assessment is commonly practiced in Western schools, while most Saudi science classroom teachers rely on end-of-unit summative assessment. A review of the literature reveals that very little research has been done related to Saudi teachers’ use of formative assessment in science classrooms. The goal of this dissertation was to address this absence of …

Another Kind Of Education: The Gruner School, Kelab Zewedu Zewedu, Maria Perry, Tracy Santizo, Fernanda Vasquez, Susanna Getis, Kay Johnson, Elisabeth Gruner

SSIR Presentations 2020

Believing in the limitless potential of the next generation, The Gruner School prepares students to be academically, socially, and mentally strong and excel in life beyond high school through a rigorous program rooted in the intersection of academia and the workforce.

Project Description: The project was the result of the Spring 2020 course, IDST 290: Education in Fiction and Fact Seminar, a continuation of the fall SSIR (Sophomore Scholars in Residence) course, Education in Fiction and Fact. The project was to design an ideal school.

The Association Of The National Assessment Of Educational Progress Scores And Variance In State Education Requirements, Patrick M. Doyle

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Since the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution, states have the function to set policy that varies drastically from state to state. This study examines the relationship of state fiscal effort and per pupil expenditure and graduation rates over a 10-year period. Furthermore, this study will look at the relationship between NAEP scores, compulsory attendance, graduation rates, course credit requirements, and hours of instruction. Research is necessary to show a relationship between the varying policies set forth by each state. This research will help policy makers, school leaders, and school localities to assess their own states’ policies and outcomes …