Digital Commons Network^™

The Intersection Of Place And Game Design: The Case Of Two Classic African Board Games, Rebecca Y. Bayeck, Joseph M. Bayeck

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The concept of game design is often associated with a computational creative task or a creation with technology. Automatically linking game design to computational activity or technology may have contributed to the scarce research on the interaction between place and game design. The focus on technology may have excluded indigenous games from game design conversation in the game design literature. This article explores design in the context of two classic African board games. We examine the influence of place on the design of these games. Building on game design and place literature, the article shows the situatedness of game design …

Long-Term Tracking Captures The Timing Of Ontogenetic Niche Shifts In Northeast Pacific White Sharks, Ryan K. Logan, James M. Anderson, Echelle S. Burns, Yamilla Samara Chacon, Ryan Freedman, Emiliano García-Rodríguez, Elizabeth Jahn, Kady Lyons, Emily N. Meese, Zachariah S. Merson, John O'Sullivan, Patrick T. Rex, Emily Spurgeon, Brian S. Stirling, Connor F. White, Chuck Winkler, Salvador Jorgensen, Oscar Sosa-Nishizaki, Christopher G. Lowe

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Ontogenetic changes in area use, habitat use, and trophic interactions play an important role in the ecology, demography, and ultimately population dynamics of many species. Assumed to be driven by shifting life-history requirements, trophic niche shifts in white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are well documented, but the timing of the spatial niche shift that is hypothesized to occur with the trophic niche shift remains poorly understood. To document how fine-scale area use varies as sharks age and the timing of the ontogenetic spatial shift of this top predator, we tracked individual white sharks tagged as young-of-the-year or young juveniles …

"Population Growth And Mexico's Production Of Family Planning Short Films," In Challenging Stories: Exploring The Intersections Between Health And The Humanities, Martha L. Espinosa

History Faculty publications

This chapter focuses on three family planning short films produced by the Mexican government. I interpret these films as an instrument to prompt the population to self-govern their reproduction. Relying on the definition of governmentality as “how modern forms of power and regulation achieve their full effects not by forcing people toward state-managed goals but by turning them into accomplices” (Agrawal 2005, 217), I argue that these short films sought to promote a new reproductive subjectivity among working-class urban and rural Mexicans. In other words, such reproductive subjectivity consisted of encouraging couples to have fewer children by promoting the idea …

The Impact Of Math Applications On Basic Math Skills, Laura Brockelsby

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project was to determine if iPad math applications can help improve students’ addition and subtraction fluency. The study looked specifically at the Teachley Math applications, Addimals and Subtractimals. The study took place in a combined first and second grade elementary school classroom. Students were introduced to the applications as a four-week math intervention. Students were given 10-15 minutes three times a week in class to work on the applications in the classroom. Student were given a pretest and a posttest to see if there was improvement on math fluency in these areas. Overall students …

Soil Condition Variability: Carbon Analysis Of Prairie, Crop, And Forest Soil In Northeast Iowa, Jacqueline Heggen, Joshua Sebree, David Gossman

Fall 2024 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

• Iowa’s soil supports crop growth, stores carbon, filters water impurities, provides a habitat for organisms, and stores and provides water and nutrients for plants.
• The availability of elements within soil is an indicator of the viability of soil.
• Total % carbon is the percent composition of carbon in the sample. Total organic carbon enters the soil through the decomposition of plants, microorganisms, and animals.
• C:H ratios can reveal the potential for microbial activity and soil fertility.
• Gossman property allows for the analysis of a variety of different soil conditions in one location

Identifying Pottery Extracts Using Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy, Evelyn Lopez, Joshua Sebree

Fall 2024 - Chemical Analysis Class Projects

• Located in Jackson County, Iowa, Gossman Farm fosters many unique environments such as caves, freshwater springs, and various soil environments.
• This research focuses on the pottery fragments found at Indian Cave located within the Gossman property.
• Pottery fragments have been recovered at Indian Cave by Dave Gossman. It’s believed that these pottery fragments are from the Native Americans that used to inhabit the area.
• By analyzing the pottery fragments at Gossman Park, insight can be given on the history of the settlers at Gossman Farm and the use of the pottery.

Health Matters! Coloring And Activity Book (80-Pages), Your Very Favorite, Children's Health, Lorraine Sheldon, May Bressler

English

Health Matters! is a English-language health literacy resource designed for pediatric patients and their families. Written at an approximately 6th-grade reading level, it supports patient education through engaging coloring and activity pages.

The content covers a wide range of health and wellness topics, including body systems, nutrition, mental wellness, patient safety, and social-emotional skills such as building friendships and navigating conversations when returning to school. Developed for use in both hospital settings and the broader community, the resource promotes learning through interactive, age-appropriate activities.

This printable PDF version contains the complete collection of activities and comprises 80 pages. The resource …

Population And Distribution Of The Ashy Red Colobus Monkey In Community Forests In Biharamulo District, Northwestern Tanzania, Olivia W. Cox

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

This study was conducted in November 2024 using active observation searches and geospatial surveys to collect data. A total of 0.404357 km2 in the three forests was canvassed, and 108 individuals were observed. The study aimed to estimate the population and distribution of Ashy red colobus monkeys in three community forests in Biharamulo District, Northwestern Tanzania, where no previous research on the Ashy red colobus has taken place. A Bayesian negative binomial model and negative binomial regression model were applied to these findings to estimate 180 individuals in the three forests, with 40, 47, and 93 individuals estimated to reside …

Effects Of Land-Use Types On Avian Functional Diversity In Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania, Ava Joan Boettiger

Tanzania: Wildlife Conservation and Political Ecology

This research examined avian abundance and functional diversity across four human land uses— monoculture, mixed farming, rural, and urban areas—in the Kilimanjaro Region of Northern Tanzania. Conducted in November 2024, the study aimed to assess how different land-use types influence avian composition and functional diversity. A quasi-experimental design was employed, using purposive sampling to select study sites and systematic random sampling point counts to observe bird species present in each land-use type. A literature review was also conducted to classify species into families and categorize them into functional feeding guilds: predators, insectivores, frugivores, granivores, and nectarivores. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, …

Opportunities For Us Manufacturing In Vietnam‬ ‭ From The Perspective Of A Vietnamese Business Consultancy Firm‬ ‭, Collin Tifft

Vietnam: Culture, Social Change, and Development

As trade relations between Vietnam and the United States continue to advance, business‬ ‭ opportunities in Vietnam for US manufacturers are ever-expanding. I took a deep dive into this‬ ‭ topic at my internship with InCorp Vietnam, one of the leading business consulting firms in‬ ‭ Vietnam. Formerly Cekindo, the company specializes in assisting foreign clients to begin and‬ ‭ continue operations in the Vietnamese market. The firm offers many services ranging from‬ ‭ business advice, legal consultancy services– involving government permissions and work visas–‬ ‭ to setting up entire payrolls for the Vietnamese offices of these foreign enterprises.‬ ‭ …

Fishnet Of Connection: The Cultural And Ecological Resilience Of Samoan Fishers, Megan Wong

Samoa: Social and Environmental Change in Oceania

Samoan fishers have created extensive knowledge systems both historically (as traditional knowledge) and contemporarily (local knowledge), and individually and collectively through close interaction with the marine environment. Such knowledge has yet to be recorded in literature, and thus cannot be brought into discussions of cultural and ecological resilience in the face of a changing environment. To remedy this, talanoas were used in this research to holistically understand how subsistence, commercial, and game fishers in Samoa perceive and interact with their communities and the environment. Fishers were found to undertake the task of fishing for nutrition, income, leisure, community, and tradition. …

Artd 2811: Introduction To Digital Art, Matthew Mottel

Open Educational Resources

A Digital Artist is responsive to mediums, formats, environments and physical spaces. Creation of artworks will be through individual or collaborative artistic modes, via production of unique image,video, sound, and performance. We will use available digital technologies to explore contemporary cultural topics. Students will make artworks that give them a basic fluency in these various techniques.

This course offers an overview of the fundamentals of digital art. Through case studies, students learn about potential digital practices. Students will learn both the theoretical and technical concepts of digital art making. Significant class time will be spent on workshops, discussions and peer …

A Call To Strengthen International Collaboration To Assess Climate Change Effects In Polar Regions, Clare B. Gaffey, Narissa Bax, Naomi Krauzig, Kévin Tougeron

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Climate change is exerting complex and transformative effects in the Arctic and Antarctic; regions that are essential to global climate, biodiversity, and sustainable futures. Given the polar regions’ roles in Earth’s system, a robust, coordinated, and innovative strategy to monitor and manage climate change effects is needed. Insufficient baseline data, inconsistent international collaboration, and short-term financing are obstacles to effectively monitor these changes. This hinders our understanding of biodiversity shifts, their implications for food security, and climate change mitigation. Confronting the impacts of climate change will require interdisciplinary collaboration and genuine participation of nations, including Indigenous communities. This sentiment includes …

Building Knowledge Across Language Systems: The Role Of Audio And Visual Supports In Bilingual Learning Through Self-Derivation, Alena G. Esposito, Katherine A. Lee, Brandan K. Gunarathne

Psychology

Children who enter the US education system as emerging bilinguals (or English Learners) show significant gaps in test scores and graduation rates compared to their English monolingual peers. Dual-language education programs may provide an instructional context that capitalizes on emerging bilingual children’s strengths and supports their academic performance while they acquire English. However, prior research has shown that integrating semantic knowledge across language systems poses a challenge. Supports may mitigate these challenges. Thus, across two studies, we examined instructional practices that may facilitate the integration of academic content across English and Spanish in elementary-age children enrolled in dual-language education programs. …

Remediation Technology And Study To Remove Nano-Pollutants From Wastewater, Lauretta Ngozi Ndu Nwagu

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Life on Earth depends on water, which also has a direct impact on climate, health, and economic growth. Water poverty, pollution, and scarcity are some of the environmental issues confronting our society today. Water pollution and water poverty are both measurable parameters. Water quality is measured by comparing its physical, chemical, and biological properties to a predefined standard. This study examines remediation techniques for removing nano-pollutants from human-generated wastewater. In order to satisfy the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standard, this technological approach utilizes gravity and a zero-carbon footprint for wastewater purification.

The research is designed with various pore sizes of …

Intoxicated Scootering: Rethinking Electric Scooter Liability In Washington, David Goodwin

Washington Law Review

The widespread acceptance of electric scooters has transformed the landscape of urban transportation. Yet, the emerging phenomenon of intoxicated scootering poses unanswered questions of liability and accountability. New research indicates that a third of traumatic electric scooter injuries are associated with intoxicated scootering. This statistic is particularly alarming given that there are over fifty million scooter trips per year in the United States.

In Washington State, the State Legislature has not enacted a state-wide policy against intoxicated scootering. Instead, the Legislature delegates the authority to regulate the operation of electric scooters to local governments. Due to the ambiguity of whether …

Honoring The Other: The Imago Dei As A Foundational Doctrine For How The Church Treats The Marginalized, Brett A. Desper

Doctor of Ministry

The church struggles to minister to those on the margins of society, frequently dehumanizing those it ministers to. This dissertation argues that a starting point for addressing this issue is a renewal of the imago Dei doctrine as the foundation of what it means to be human. Chapter One defines the problem by referring to two primary problem areas: poverty and displaced people. A definition of poverty is offered, and four primary approaches to alleviate poverty are examined. Causes and definitions of displacement of people from their homes are offered, and some current relief methods are evaluated. Finally, a fundamental …

Field-Ready Voltammetric Detection Of Aqueous Cadmium (Ii) Ions On Aptamer-Modified Inkjet-Printed Gold Electrode, Glenn D. Ongayo, Jiena Lynne R. Pauco, Erwin P. Enriquez

Chemistry Faculty Publications

In this work, a simple and cost-effective integrated electrode system consisting of aptamer-modified inkjet-printed (IJP) gold working electrode and unmodified IJP gold as counter electrode (both printed on polyethylene naphthalate substrate) has been developed for low-cost detection of cadmium (II) ion in water. The technique uses a Cd2+ (Cd-4) aptamer, a single-stranded DNA with 31 nucleotides trapped on the working electrode using the self-assembly monolayer (SAM) technique. The electrochemical detection of Cd2+ is based on the change in redox peaks of [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- as a redox probe in cyclic voltammetry. The change in peak current is caused by a difference in …

Précis Of: "Birds, Bats And Minds: Tales Of A Revolutionary Scientist, Donald R. Griffin", Carolyn A. Ristau

Animal Sentience

Donald Griffin co-discovered bat sonar and founded the field of echolocation. He studied bird migration and founded Cognitive Ethology, the study of animal awareness and mental experiences. In all these endeavors, he faced hostile opposition. The biography (Ristau 2024) examines Griffin's life and the scientific explorations by him and others in these fields. This Précis emphasizes his arguments and supporting evidence for animal consciousness as well as his later research. Griffin considered the inhibiting assumptions made by scientists, including Cartesian views, the misunderstanding of innate behaviors, prejudice against lower animals, concern with violations of parsimony, and the assertions of the …

White Monsters: Understanding Whiteness As Social And Legal Monstrosity, Steven Sacco

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article argues that whiteness operates as a socially and legally constructed monstrosity, perpetuating systemic inequality and destructive power through both intentional and nonintentional mechanisms. By employing monster theory, the analysis reveals how whiteness adapts and evolves to maintain its dominance, often through legal frameworks that obscure its harmful effects. The Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe, while advancing justice in some aspects, also exemplifies how the law can perpetuate inequality by overlooking historical and social contexts.

Cultivating Self-Knowledge In The Writing Classroom: A Study Of Contemplative Pedagogy, Jared Featherstone

English Theses & Dissertations

This pedagogical research study examines the effects of Understanding the Self Through Writing and Rhetoric, an undergraduate course designed by the researcher, on students. The course is an example of contemplative writing pedagogy, one that seeks to foreground first-person direct experience of the subject matter and integrates mindfulness meditation and journaling throughout. While writing and rhetoric are common undergraduate subjects to teach, the course focuses on particular, lesser-known aspects of them, internal rhetoric and self-making narrative. A third important part of the course is the examination of how communication technologies, especially social media and messaging applications, affect one’s internal rhetoric …

Roles Of The His-Purkinje System In Long Qt Syndrome Mediated Arrhythmias, Anthony Owusu-Mensah

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic or drug-induced electrophysiological disorder in the heart that prolongs the QT interval on the electrocardiogram. LQTS is present in considerable proportions (1:3000 to 1:5000) of the general population. LQTS has a high incidence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias during physical and emotional stress and is a significant cause of sudden death in younger subjects. This poses a substantial medical burden on the healthcare system in terms of morbidity, mortality, and finances. Despite extensive genetic research into LQTS, the mechanisms underlying spontaneous initiation and maintenance of arrhythmias are not fully understood. Beta-blockers are the standard …

The Anaerobic Rose Chamber (Arc): Novel Applications For Probing Clostridioides Difficile Dynamics, Tatiana Zvonareva

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an urgent public health threat with a high rate of recurrence and limited treatment options. Caused by the anaerobic intestinal pathogen C. difficile, this disease affects up to 500,000 Americans annually. Despite progress in our understanding of CDI pathophysiology, the lack of effective and accessible experimental platforms compatible with obligate anaerobe physiology hinders the advancement of treatment therapy. The application of in vivo models has been indispensable in understanding CDI pathophysiology, probing the complexity of the host response to the microbe, and establishing treatment protocols, and it continues to be essential in preclinical testing. …

Increasing Caregiver Involvement In Strengthening Learning Through Movement, Hayley Elbe

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The project and paper address the research question of, what resources can educators provide to caregivers to help strengthen learning through movement in the home environment? Research has shown that students perform better academically when they are supported by both their educators and their caregivers, when they have ample opportunities to intentionally move their bodies both at home and at school, and when their educators and caregivers are working together as a team to support them as a person and as a learner. Ten resources have been put together to make up the contents of a movement backpack, which can …

The Explicit Teaching Of Social-Emotional Skills Through Storytelling, Karen Roussell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

State testing pressures and loss of academic time due to COVID (2019) have pushed academics forward while leaving behind Social Emotional Learning (SEL). With little time for SEL, teachers need to integrate it through other content areas. However, educators have voiced challenges when integrating SEL within content. Research has shown an increase in the implementation of SEL but also indicates that not all teachers are formally teaching it. Since not all teachers are teaching SEL, some students do not have access to the necessary resources to gain lifelong social-emotional skills. This creates an inequitable learning environment within the classroom. This …

Identifying Inclusive Practices For Youth With Asd In An Outdoor Environmental Education Setting, Clara Zubrick

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project aims to answer how outdoor environmental education programs (OEE) can be more inclusive for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through staff training, program design, and facilitation. The research focuses on what inclusive means in the context of OEE, how OEE programs benefit youth with autism, and what specific learning differences and pedagogical approaches need to be considered when designing and facilitating inclusive programs for youth with autism. The project created is a two-day professional development workshop for informal educators working in environmental education settings. The goal of the project is to provide instructional content that increases educators’ …

Increasing Student Retention And Engagement Of Learned Concepts, While Fostering Connections To The Cultural And Ecological Significance Of The Galapagos Islands Through Pre-Travel Lessons And Reflection, Bernadette Heaney-Deuel

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Student travel has the potential to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Travel combines authentic experiences and exposure to multiple perspectives in a way unlikely to happen in the classroom. Authentic experiences answer the age-old question, “Why do I have to learn this?” The reason for learning becomes tangible in the moment. Broadening our perspective increases empathy, reduces bias, and improves problem-solving skills. Travel provides the opportunity to experience many perspectives different from those experienced in our daily lives. The impact travel can have on a student can vary based on the experiences before, during, and after travel. Through the use of pre-travel …

Essential Understandings For Non-Indigenous Science Educators When Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge And Ways Of Knowing, Genia Cegla

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Historically, Indigenous Native American voices have been silenced and disregarded as a result of the US’ colonial history. Educators are in a unique position that allows us to begin healing from this past through equity and inclusion which studies show are essential to success for students in school and beyond. While many teachers acknowledge the importance of including Indigenous Knowledge in curricula, they lack the support and resources for how to start. This capstone aims to answer the question: What insights are necessary for non-Indigenous educators when incorporating Indigenous knowledge into climate change curricula? The final project is designed as …

Fostering A Sense Of Place In Language Immersion Preschool Through Environmental Exploration, Elise Lindell

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This paper endeavors to address the need of outdoor environmental education in language immersion early childhood education settings. It investigates the impact of outdoor education on child development, looking at cognitive, social/emotional, and physical benefits. It examines the affective impact of attention fatigue, attention restoration, learned helplessness, and action competence. It also looks at the effect of place-based education in fostering a sense of place, and the role of sense of place in encouraging the development of an environmentally aware lifestyle. Finally, it proposes a place-based environmental education curriculum of six lessons, in French and English, around the subject of …

Educational Materials On Pollinator-Friendly Yards To Increase Residential Support, Armarie Williams

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

There are over 200,000 pollinator species in the world and humans rely on them for a diverse range of wants and needs. Everything from daily nourishment to the global economy can be traced back to these little creatures, yet pollinator populations are declining and at risk of global extinction. The health and future of pollinators relies greatly upon the public's support and evidence indicates residential yards can assist pollinators by providing food, shelter, and refuge. Research shows that awareness of pollinator declines correlates with one’s willingness to partake in pollinator conservation. This project answers the research question: How can educational …