Digital Commons Network^™

Living Shorelines As A Solution To Saltwater Marsh Erosion, Elizjah Eddy, Richard Hale

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

In recent years, saltwater marshes fringing the Lafayette River, a tributary of the Elizabeth River, have experienced degradation in response to increased inundation and ocean energy . These marshes provide critical ecological and economic benefits to the City of Norfolk, and prioritizing their long term health and sustainability is an important challenge. An emerging restoration tactic involves enhancing marsh elevation through the application of dredge material that would otherwise require disposal offshore (known as thin-layer placement or TLP). An important first step in TLP projects is characterizing the textural and geochemical properties of the existing marsh sediment. The goal of …

How Much Does Shape Matter: Investigating The Impact Of Marine Particle Morphological Features On In-Situ Settling Velocities Using Pca And Various Ml Models, Huanqing Huang, Alexander B. Bochdansky

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Particle settling velocity serves as an essential component in ocean biological pump, as it determines particle retention time in the water column. Stokes’ law has been widely used to predict particle settling velocities by particle size and excess density in aquatic environments. However, an increasing number of studies suggest that Stokes’ law fits poorly in the size-velocity relationship of observations on small oceanic particles. Here, we present a series of novel approaches to investigate the relative contribution of settling velocities by the particle shape and optical densities using machine learning (ML) models and principal component analysis (PCA), based on 3906 …

Rethinking Harmful Algal Blooms In Utah Waters: A Paradigm Shift In Water Quality And Management, Kabilan Mani

Spring Runoff Conference

Droughts are intensifying in frequency and severity, straining already limited water supplies.

Hydrodynamics Of Bear Lake: Waves, Currents, Circulation, And Residence Times, Jeffrey Nielson

Spring Runoff Conference

Until we understand water movement, we’ll struggle to explain or manage what happens in Bear Lake.

Water Needs And Recovery Pathways For The Great Salt Lake, David Tarboton, Sarah Null, Bethany Neilson

Spring Runoff Conference

Main Points 

• Levels of GSL inherently fluctuate because of variability in precipitation and temperature that drive inflow and evaporation 
• Reductions in inflows due to water use are superimposed on this variability 
• Consistent delivery of conserved water offers the opportunity to shift the range of lake levels upwards reducing the occurrence of serious adverse effects and increasing the potential for healthy lake levels 
• Adding 250 thousand-acre ft/year reduces the occurrence of serious adverse effects from 61% to 28% over the long term 
• Adding 800 thousand-acre ft/year shifts the mean of variable lake levels to the lower end of the healthy lake …

Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan, Laura Vernon

Spring Runoff Conference

What is the Great Salt Lake Basin Integrated Plan? A roadmap for managing water in ways that promote a healthy lake and a high quality of life in the basin.

Microplastics As Physical Hubs Amplifying Antiobiotic Resistance Under Mixed-Contaminant Selection In Wastewater Systems, Liyuan Hou

Spring Runoff Conference

Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic particles within the range of (0.1 mm to 5 mm) in size

Integrating Hydrology And Human Water Footprints: A Case Study Of The Great Salt Lake Watershed, Rocky Lynne Seeley

Spring Runoff Conference

A new model, comprehensively integrating hydrologic, water footprint, and virtual water data

Interlude. A Colloquy On The Future Of Music, Music Education, And The American Orchestra, Robert S. Freeman

Music & Musical Performance: An International Journal

No abstract provided.

A Conversation On Water, Camille Touton

Spring Runoff Conference

A conversation on water presentation at the 2026 Spring Runoff Conference.

What’S Next In Water Leasing Panel, Scott Hotaling, Adam Wickline, Hannah Freeze, Matt Anderson, Peter Stanton, Mitch Hancock

Spring Runoff Conference

Panel on water leasing at the 2026 Spring Runoff Conference.

Balancing Water Needs In Walker Basin, Peter Stanton

Spring Runoff Conference

Walker Lake 

Supported 50% of Mineral County economy 

Traditional homeland of Walker River Paiute Tribe (Agai Dicutta) 

World-class fishery

Annual Loon Festival

Utah’S Water Network Panel, Brad Mortensen, Kelly Pehrson, Nate Daugs, Brad Parry, Lindsie Smith, Camille Touton, Megan Nelson

Spring Runoff Conference

A panel on Utah's water network at the 2026 Spring Runoff Conference.

2026 Northern Utah Water Champion Award, Spring Runoff Conference

Spring Runoff Conference

Recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained, meaningful contributions to the stewardship, management, governance, or understanding of water in Northern Utah.

Utah State University’S Water Legacy, Brad Mortensen

Spring Runoff Conference

Utah State University's President, Brad Mortensen, presents at the 2026 Spring Runoff Conference.

Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions, Katie Swart

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

Several studies over the past five decades have shown that when families are involved in their child's education, it improves academic achievement (Barger et al., 2019). Beyond academic achievement, family and community engagement is also associated with better behavior, increased attendance and graduation rates, social skills, and mental health (Hiatt-Michael, 2001). Educator preparation programs (EPPs) can play a vital role in shaping pre-service teachers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and values (Darling-Hammond & Baratz-Snowden, 2007). Moreover, researchers claim that teachers' beliefs are among the most important predictors of their classroom behaviors and practices (Buchanan et al, 1998; Vartuli, 1999). As such, pre-service …

Using Constructivist Practices To Build Preservice Teachers' Understanding Of Personalized, Competency-Based Learning, Lindsay Yearta, Lisa Harris, Julia Wilkins, Christine Lotter

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

As teacher educators, we have always been certain of the active, iterative nature of learning, and we strive to facilitate experiences that allow our preservice teachers to learn in robust, authentic ways. When, three teacher educators from three universities situated in a southeastern state and one education associate from a state department of education, started working together in the fall of 2022 with the desire to help our preservice teachers better understand personalized, competency-based learning (PCBL), we knew how important it would be to center our learners and, in doing so, facilitate active, reflective learning experiences for them...

Highlighting Leadership Competencies On Principal Practices In A Rural School District, Shannon Goodacre, Jeremy Watts

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

The purpose of this research was to describe how high school principals in rural, high-performing high schools in Fee County Schools practice leadership to promote a positive school environment. The emphases on high-performing schools and a rural school district are inclusive to why these leaders were chosen. Assuming the leaders who influence the learning environment in these schools could be considered experts, the researchers endeavored to understand what these experts notice about their leadership methods that positively affect the learning environment. The goal of the study was to determine what skills high school principals employ to promote a positive learning …

Using Concept Maps And Reflective Narratives As Authentic Assessment Of Readiness For Inclusive Classrooms, Jeremy Lopuch, Christopher O'Brien, Debra Lockwood, Sequita Lipscomb

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

The purpose of this study was to continue a line of inquiry into the usefulness of quantitative and qualitative analyses and interpretations of concept maps for assessing preservice teacher candidates' knowledge of inclusive teaching. Specifically, there is little published data on the qualitative analysis of concept maps measuring instructional knowledge and skills associated with teaching in inclusive classrooms. Using a convenience sample of 13 teacher candidates enrolled in a teacher education program, participants were asked to create a concept map of their knowledge about students with disabilities and a reflective narrative statement on the first and last day of the …

Full Issue: Volume 19, Number 1, Winter 2025, Judith Collazo, Suzanne Horn

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This file contains the full issue of TEJSC, including front matter, table of contents, editorial notes, and articles.

Pre-Service Teachers’ Academic Success: Paying Attention To The Importance Of Basic Literacy Skills For Future Teachers, Nan Li, Jada Williams

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

The A-Nation-at-Risk report in 1983 shocked the nation. This report was an open letter to the American public. "America as a nation is at risk and that our once unchallenged preeminence in commerce, industry, science, and technological innovation is being overtaken by competitors throughout the world" (Park, 2022, p. 9). An important reason was that American students lagged behind the P-12 students of other nations in the third international literacy competition. The U.S students were ranked lower than 40 other nations.

Teacher Retention: Supporting New Teachers, Kathy Sobolewski, Amanda Butler, Jennifer Zakrzewski

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

Our nation is undergoing a severe shortage of teachers. According to Think Impact, K-12 classroom teachers are the most burned out in comparison to every other profession, with about 40% of teachers leaving the education field in the first five years (Craft, 2024). Starrett et al. (2023) identified school factors such as dissatisfaction with the school administration, work-life balance, and school discipline problems as reasons for teachers to choose a second career. The researchers also found that class size and limited autonomy are strongly associated with emotional exhaustion, thus contributing to teachers exiting the field...

Technology In The Classroom: Opportunity Or Obstacle?, Amariya Benson, Kinzly Cohen, Gretchen Whitman

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

The issue of technology in the classroom holds much significance because technology is continuing to advance at a rapid pace. As it is being woven more and more into the fabric of classroom learning, its impact is becoming increasingly profound. This growing integration needs to be studied because it brings up significant questions regarding the most effective ways to support and enhance the learning process with each new digital advancement...

Full Issue: Volume 18, Number 2, Spring 2025, Judith Collazo, Suzanne Horn

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This file contains the full issue of TEJSC, including front matter, table of contents, editorial notes, and articles.

Literacies Practices In The Disciplines, Emily Skinner

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

Building on Conley's (2014) work, I conducted an inquiry with disciplinary specialists across the college campus to learn about disciplinary literacies and to create a corpus of resources to use in my teaching. I interviewed disciplinary faculty in math, English, science, and history. I then edited 30-60 minute interviews down to 12-15 minute videos focused on what I determined would be most helpful to preparing middle grades and secondary teachers. Students viewed and then connected teaching strategies they had learned about in the course to the literacy practices of the disciplines. Their final project was a narrated digital presentation video …

Full Issue: Volume 18, Number 1, Fall 2024, Suzanne Horn, Judith Collazo

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This file contains the full issue of TEJSC, including front matter, table of contents, editorial notes, and articles.

Building Individual Relationships With Students In Today's Classrooms, Kelley Mayer White, Katie Swart

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

Research has documented associations between high quality teacher-child relationships and children's social skills, self-regulation, and school readiness (Baker et al., 2008; Nguyen et al., 2020; Spilt et al., 2018). High-quality relationships are often defined as those in which the teacher and child experience a sense of closeness. Closeness is characterized by positive interactions, open communication, and warm feelings between teachers and children (Mashburn & Pianta, 2006). In contrast, children in teacher-child relationships regarded as high in conflict often perform poorer academically, are less engaged in learning, and report liking school less (Baker, 2006; Furrer & Skinner, 2003; Hamre & Pianta, …

Advancing Equity In Stem Education: A University, K-12 School District 61 Collaboration To Engage Sixth-Grade Students In Computing Activities, Michiko B. Mcclary, Deirdre Morrison Wells, Kamilah Brown

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This mixed-methods study aims to determine whether participation in a computer science program positively impacts middle school students' attitude toward science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and interest in STEM-related careers. Nineteen sixth-grade students from underrepresented populations in the STEM field consisting of 17 African Americans, one Latino, and one White female attending a rural, Title I middle school participated in the study. Computing lessons were taught by undergraduate interns majoring in computer science, middle-level mathematics and science teacher education, and secondary mathematics teacher education attending a small, private, four-year liberal arts, historically black college, or university. Survey results and …

Expert Roles Reconsidered: What Was Learned About The Mentor/Intern 4 Experience During A Global Pandemic, Courtney Clayton, Kristina Peck, Christy Irish, Melissa Wells, Janine Davis

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

In the early months of 2020, the United States was hit with a pandemic of global proportions. Schools, including universities, were forced to close all on-campus activities. The campus where we teach was no exception. Therefore, our interns (student teachers) went from face-to-face classroom internships to virtual internships. Over the summer, we decided to examine how virtual instruction impacted our interns' year of student teaching, knowing that instruction at all schools for their internship year was going to start virtually, and, for the foreseeable future, be virtual. We focused on our mentor teachers' perceptions of what their interns were experiencing …

Full Issue: Volume 15, Number 2, Summer 2022, Judith Collazo, Christine Leblanc, Timothy Lintner

Teacher Education Journal of South Carolina

This file contains the full issue of TEJSC, including front matter, table of contents, editorial notes, and articles.