Digital Commons Network^™

Faculty Format Preferences In The Performing Arts: A Multi-Institutional Study, Joe C. Clark, Jonathan Sauceda, Sheridan Stormes

Scholarship and Professional Work

Resources for teaching in higher education have undergone a tremendous evolution during the past several decades. The Internet and commercial services, such as YouTube and Google, have revolutionized the manner by which students and faculty access information to both conduct research and meet course requirements. This mixed methods study implemented an online survey and interviews to determine how performing arts faculty at three institutions integrate library resources and services into their teaching. Conclusions indicate that, while personal collections and Internet resources provide a majority of teaching content, the academic library still offers important access to materials for instruction.

Education As Important Predictor For Successful Employment In Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Worldwide., Maayke Sluman, Maayke Sluman, Silke Apers, Judith Sluiter, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen, Philip Moons, Philip Moons, Koen Luyckx, Koen Luyckx, Adrienne Kovacs, Adrienne Kovacs, Corina Thomet, Werner Budts, Junko Enomoto, Hsiao-Ling Yang, Jamie Jackson, Paul Khairy, Stephen Cook, Raghavan Subramanyan, Luis Alday, Katrine Eriksen, Mikael Dellborg, Mikael Dellborg, Malin Berghammer, Malin Berghammer, Eva Mattsson, Andrew Mackie, Samuel Menahem, Maryanne Caruana, Kathy Gosney, Alexandra Soufi, Susan Fernandes, Kamila White, Edward Callus, Shelby Kutty, Berto Bouma, Barbara Mulder

Psychology Faculty Works

Background: Conflicting results have been reported regarding employment status and work ability in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Since this is an impor‐ tant determinant for quality of life, we assessed this in a large international adult CHD cohort. Methods: Data from 4028 adults with CHD (53% women) from 15 different countries were collected by a uniform survey in the cross‐sectional APPROACH International Study. Predictors for employment and work limitations were studied using general linear mixed models. Results: Median age was 32 years (IQR 25‐42) and 94% of patients had at least a high school degree. Overall employment rate …

Charter School Performance In Rhode Island, Lena Vye

Senior Honors Projects

In the last few decades, there has been considerable debate over whether or not charter schools are beneficial to the American education system. Charter schools are given government funding, but they have independence from the established educational system. Charter school supporters argue that increased autonomy and innovation in teaching, as well as competition between schools, improves the quality of education. Opponents of charter schools argue that charter schools are not more effective than public schools. However, the research is mixed: some studies suggest charter schools perform better, some suggest they perform similarly, and some suggest that they perform worse than …

Effects Of Multicultural Education On English Language Learners, Donna Dias

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

It is no surprise to step into a classroom with little to no multicultural education being implemented in the curricula, but when there are English language learners (ELLs) in these classes, the stakes run high. In a predominantly Eurocentric society, the U.S. population has become more diverse. It is important for diverse ELL students to feel heard and understood in their classrooms. This senior capstone will examine and discuss the effects of the different types of multicultural education on English Language Learning students through the use of literature review, interview with teachers and principals, and student surveys. The findings indicate …

The Utilization Of Visual Design Systems To Promote Higher Levels Of Learning In Educational Environments, Keenan Sultanik

Masters Theses

Traditional higher education environments have changed very little in the last hundred and fifty years, while technology has advanced in nearly every other area of society making each more productive and more capable. This study identifies key aspects of a comprehensive and universal visual learning system that incorporates a more holistic approach to design and interactivity in educational environments. The desired effect of this is elevating classroom learning to higher levels as defined by Bloom’s Taxonomy. In this thesis, I have collected and explored empirical and observational data to examine the relationship between effective learning environments and the use of …

Balancing The Theoretical Toolkit: A Quantitative Examination Of Social Mobility And Culture, Nathan Cole Baggett

Sociology & Anthropology Theses - Archive

Stratification researchers of the last four decades have contributed a multitude of information on how class-origins, culture, and social psychological factors affect class reproduction. However, scholarship has spent comparatively less effort in exploring cultural elements that can facilitate upward mobility for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This thesis addresses this research imbalance through providing a nuanced look at cultural, social, and economic factors associated with educational mobility. Specifically, I investigate how educational aspirations offset financial constraints for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. I employ regression analyses to examine how common educational mobility is for individuals from less-educated households and then test to …

Menstrual Hygiene Management Among Adolescent Girls In Kenya, Kelsey Sampson

Ballard Brief

Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is the processes and resources surrounding menstruation. including the knowledge, products. and social norms associated with it. For many adolescent girls in Kenya, MHM is a serious and impactful issue. Although there are likely more causal factors, research suggests that some of the largest causes of this problem are poverty, the culture surrounding menstruation. inadequate sexual health education, and poor sanitation infrastructure. These barriers to adequate menstrual hygiene management create adverse consequences for the Kenyan girls, including infections. poor mental well-being, increased sexual activity, decreased education attainment, and gender inequality. Although changing the status quo of …

Faculty Satisfaction At Striving Vs. Non-Striving Institutions, Na-Li Kim

Education Policy and Leadership Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I analyze the 2013-14 Faculty Survey data from Higher Education Research Institute (HERI), to observe whether faculty at striving and non-striving institutions have varying levels of faculty satisfaction. In addition, some of the individual-level factors such as demographic characteristics, tenure-status, STEM/non-STEM department, and career related stress are analyzed to see how these variables influence faculty satisfaction. I use a combination of OLS regression and multiple regression to present evidence, which provides support to my argument that faculty at striving and non-striving institutions have different levels of faculty satisfaction. The findings from my study show that faculty at …

A Multi-Case Study Identifying Potential Factors Related To Two- To Four-Year Transfer Student Retention And Persistence At Private Institutions, Rachael Capua

Education Policy and Leadership Theses and Dissertations

A multi-case study, this research was designed to address a dearth of literature focusing on undergraduate transfer students from two- to four-year private institutions. Through a quantitative and qualitative approach, the researcher completed a descriptive data analysis (n = 2,086) and semi-structured student interviews (n = 10).

The purpose of this study was to better understand the makeup of students who transfer from community colleges to private (highly selective) institutions as well as what potential factors were related to their retention and persistence at the baccalaureate level. Two private universities, both geographically located near a large community college system (also …

Essays On Paid Family Leave In The United States, Beila R. Leboeuf

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Chapter 1: The first chapter is a literature survey that reviews the empirical research conducted on paid family leave in the United States. This chapter summarizes the documented benefits of paid family leave on women's labor force participation, leave usage, and children's health. Also, evidence that suggests potentially harmful effects of paid family leave is discussed. Possible directions for future research are explored, and the chapter concludes by considering the implementation of a national paid family leave program in the United States.

Chapter 2: The second chapter replicates and extends the results of Rossin-Slater et al. (2013). The purpose of …

Adults Formerly In Foster Care Narrate Schooling Experiences, Danielle Walker

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Roughly 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States (Lash, 2017, p. 5). These youth are less likely to graduate high school than their non-foster peers (Barnow et al., 2015). While several barriers contribute to the poor educational outcomes for children in foster care, research has noted that the label “foster child” is associated with negative connotations and differential teacher treatment (Altshuler, 2003; Finkelstein, Wamsley, & Miranda, 2002). In spite of such observations, little research has emphasized the perspectives of those in foster care. To fill this gap, this qualitative study posed the following question: How do adults …

Discourses Of The Rural Rust Belt: Schooling, Poverty, And Rurality, Alexandra Panos, Jennifer Seelig

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This article addresses the ways in which elementary teachers in the rural rust belt both reproduce and contest dominant discourses of schooling, rurality, and poverty in their particular local context. Situated within a 4-year postcritical ethnographic study, this analysis of teacher discourse took part during an embedded, 4-month-long teacher study group. Within this context, the authors examine how the group’s discourse on poverty claimed that inequity was the fault of those experiencing it, as well as that a neoliberal discourse of education emphasized a flattened accountability and growth-only perspective within teacher’s professional interactions. However, through the addition of a spatial …

"Can I Work With Your Group?" Assessing Preferences Among The Washington University In St. Louis Undergraduate Community Towards International Students In Classroom Group Formation, Marisa Ippolito, Aneesha Bandarpalle, Hank Michalski

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

Group formation is an integral component of the contemporary higher education experience. This begs the question of how students form groups: which aspects are most important, and what determines people’s preferences for group members. Specific incidents have indicated that some students, particularly international students, are not sure if they will be welcome when asking to join a class group. In this study, undergraduate business students were surveyed to understand their preferences when selecting group members, using conjoint analysis to analyze the results. Overall, (i) results show that the most important factor for people’s preferences is if a potential group member …

Investigation And Development Of Multiphysics Modeling Software Applications For Building Noise Control, Jennifer Solheim

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

COMSOL Multiphysics is a simulation software for modeling engineering processes and designs. The software can be used to create applications that allow users to change variables in a model and see the effect on the physics phenomenon under investigation. COMSOL applications can provide an interactive learning experience and help students visualize engineering concepts. This project examines the use of COMSOL to develop applications related to noise control in buildings, focusing on making them useful for education. Two applications were developed based on existing COMSOL models. One simulates sound absorption by a porous foam, and the other simulates sound propagation through …

Does Family Income Determine A Children Future Educational Attainment Level?, Diaisha T. Richards

Applied Economics Theses

Family income and education have been a major concern in a variety of researches, and as a topic in society. These two components are a major concern because they are known to be key elements in determining future success for an individual. Various studies investigated the significance, correlations and impacts these two factors have on one another. It is common for the amount of family income obtained to determine how much education one will receive in the future. This study focuses on testing the hypothesis that family income determines how much education a child will receive in the future. By …

Benefits Of Bilingual Education Programs For Elementary School Students, Jesica Moreno

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The benefits of bilingual education programs are endless; however, with Prop 227, students were disregarded the opportunity to learn in a more accepting, multicultural classroom environment. Now with the passage of the new Prop 58 in recent year, it is important for our community to become more familiar with the most effective bilingual education programs and their benefits on students. The purpose of this senior capstone is to examine the benefits of bilingual education programs on elementary school students through a literature review, interviews with teachers, and interviews with parents. The results reveal that the benefits of bilingual education programs …

The Ebp-Cot Assignment: Increasing The Use And Understanding Of Ebps In Preservice Teachers, Margaret Bowman

Honors Theses

This study investigated whether the use of the Evidence-Based Practice-Classroom Observation Tool (EBP-COT) assignment in an introductory teacher education practicum increased the understanding of Evidence-Based Practice-Classroom Observation Tools (EBPCOT). Participants in this study were consenting special education majors in their introductory block practicum course at a mid-south university in the fall semester of 2018. Students were asked to complete the EBP-COT assignment to include focused checklists components and reflections as well as a pretest and posttest. The assignment, pretest, and posttest were analyzed for similarities in increased understanding of evidence-based practices and comfort with the use of evidence-based practices. Overall, …

Crumbling Foundations: The Case For Prioritizing Self-Care Among Educational Leaders, Joshua Brent Ray

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a potentially dangerous disassociation between human behavior, decision-making, and ethics and the notion that these fundamental aspects of what it means to be human originate simply as the functions of an organ. A deeper knowledge of the operation and limitations of the brain suggests biological input could possess the ability to unknowingly alter human behavior and effectiveness. This study utilizes a research-based understanding of the implications of human health and self-care habits on neurological, psychological, and behavioral function to examine the current practices of educational administrators across Arkansas while exploring systemic and job-based factors within the profession that …

Climate Change Education And Environmental Education: Perceptions And Knowledge Among Environmental Educators In The Southeastern United States, Lauren C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is a global environmental problem and issue. Mitigation and adaptation have been suggested for use in dealing with the impacts, both current and in the future. Climate change education as a mitigation and adaptation effort is one that could have great impact. This quantitative survey study examined the climate change and climate change education perception and knowledge of Southeastern Environmental Education Association members. This study segmented participants into one of six unique climate change groups: Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Doubtful, Dismissive, and Disengaged based on the Six Americas Survey developed by Maibach, Lesierowitz, Roser-Renouf, and Mertz. CC knowledge was …

Predicting Teacher Usage Of Learning Games In Classrooms, Joseph M. Waarvik

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study addresses a problem of ambiguity in academic writing regarding whether learning games are underutilized in educational settings, what type of educators use learning games, and what factors are the most important in predicting educator usage. The purpose of the study is to clarify and explain the current state of educator usage of learning games in these areas in order to inform designers of educator professional development. There are two well-known frameworks that can be used to understand learning game integration by educators: the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. This study uses …

Determinants Of Disparities In The Colorectal Cancer Burden, Karen Elizabeth Callahan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer incidence and mortality in the United States, with an estimated 140,000 new cases and 51,000 deaths expected in 2018. Like most cancers, the burden of CRC is unequally distributed among population groups. The current dissertation included two studies filling gaps in knowledge about CRC disparities. Study 1 characterized the relationship between educational attainment and CRC mortality by race/ethnicity. Six years of CRC mortality data (2012-2017) from the diverse state of California, with 30,180 deaths were analyzed. Sex-specific mortality rate ratios (MRR) stratified by race/ethnicity as well as by educational level …

Implementing A Heart Failure Education Program For Bedside Nurses In The Acute Care Setting, David L. Morrow

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Heart failure is a chronic disease in which a weakened heart is no longer able to deliver adequate blood flow to supply the body with needed oxygen and nutrients. Heart failure is the most common reason for hospitalization in the United States for patients age 65 and over, accounting for over 1,000,000 hospital admissions annually. Due to the chronic nature of this debilitating condition and associated symptoms, patients discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of heart failure are at high risk for readmission. Effective self-care behaviors have been shown to reduce readmissions and improve quality of life for these …

Optimal Policy For Investment In Human Capital In The Light Of Optimal Tax Theory, Sylwia Radomska

Studia i Materiały Wydział Zarządzania Uniwersytet Warszawski

The increasing amount of student loan is becoming a pressing issue for the US economy, as it exceeds 1.4 trillion dollars (or 7.2% of GDP), thus requiring a policy change. This paper presents economic literature on optimal taxation with human capital, which provides foundations for evaluating the long-run effects of taxation and endogenous investment in skills. I review insights from the dynamic models. The literature in the field considers two instruments: turning repayments income-contingent and providing subsidies to education costs. I summarize the results from theoretical and simulation studies. Income-contingent repayment schemes can improve welfare, whereas the effects of education …

The Force Of Magnetism: Nursing-Library Collaborations To Support Magnet, Barbara (Basia) Delawska-Elliott, Helene Anderson, Marla London

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Background: The ANCC Magnet model is built on 5 Model Components and 14 Forces of Magnetism. The Components and Forces, including Transformational Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice, New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvement, and Empirical Quality Results (Models), and Professional Development, Quality Improvement, Nurses as Teachers, and Quality of Care (Forces) encourage and recognize professional growth, care improvement, and knowledge dissemination. Familiarity with searching professional literature and information literacy are key skills needed to grow Magnetism. This presentation will describe a collaboration between Magnet leadership and the library to build programs designed to support Magnet values and outcomes.

Description: Magnet …

Teachers' Perceptions And Practices On Using Educational Technology As An Instructional Tool In The Classroom, Amanda Lee Resendez

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the rapid expansion of educational technologies in primary schools, recent research has shown that many teachers are not taking full advantage of these new tools. This study was designed to address the problem of the lack of effective technology integration in the classroom, particularly in grades third thru fifth at two school districts in the Rio Grande Valley. The purpose of this study was to examine primary teachers' perceptions of implementing technology in the classroom. Framed by Koehler and Mishra's technological pedagogical content knowledge model (TPACK), the study was guided by research questions that involved teachers' perceptions of the …

Complex Trauma: Counselors' Self-Efficacy And Treatment, Breeze Valenska Rueda

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive and exploratory mixed-method study was twofold: to explore counselors’ perceptions and knowledge regarding complex trauma and, assess counselors’ perceptions regarding their level of confidence when working with this population. The study determined what relevant factors were related to counselors’ perceived self-efficacy concerning complex trauma. Although complex trauma is emerging as an important issue, there is limited research regarding counselors’ experiences with complex trauma. The current study explored participants’ perceptions when providing services to individuals with prolonged and cumulative trauma and provided a greater understanding of counselors’ recognition and selfefficacy when working with this population. A …

When Fingers Meet Strings, Kara Joy Gibson

Masters Theses

There is a great need for a current and comprehensive curriculum for young harp students. Most of the available instruction books and volumes are over half a century old, and while they have held up in some ways to the test of time, in many others they have fallen short. When Fingers Meet Strings is a fully comprehensive harp method book, meaning it can be used as a stand-alone curriculum for harp pedagogy.

Motivating Students With Learning Disabilities To Succeed In Education, Ana Reyes-Ortiz

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Many students with learning disabilities may feel incapable of achieving in their academic goals and are in need of greater motivation. They may believe that abilities are innate and fixed and that their ability to learn and achieve is unchangeable. However, they may not be aware of growth mindset strategies that can support their academic success. To address the need for motivation, I created three lessons to teach seventh grade students in a resource classroom at Aptos Jr. High strategies for a growth mindset and to stay motivated throughout their academic challenges.

Teaching 4th Grade Students About Nutrition, Raquel Gaytan

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Most children do not know how to make healthy food choices and understand why they have to have a good nutrition. It is important for children to know why having a good nutrition is important for their bodies and health. Without good understanding of nutrition, children are not able to care for their health. To address the children's’ lack of knowledge, I created a 3-day lesson on nutrition and delivered it to a 4th grade classroom in Del Rey Elementary in King City, California.

Start The Conversation: Teaching High School Students Mental Illness And Stigma, Maria Espinoza

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There is an information gap among adolescents regarding mental health knowledge. In order to reduce stigma of mental illness and promote help seeking, there is a need to inform adolescents about mental health as part of overall health, maintaining their mental health, and what to do for themselves and for others who may be affected by issues of depression and anxiety. I created a two-day lesson on mental health that consists of mental illness information, what is stigma, how to reduce mental health stigma, and methods to advocate for better mental health for 11 high school participants from San Benito …