Digital Commons Network^™

A Qualitative Examination Of Multilingual Latino Students’ Perspectives Of Their Educational Journeys In Preparation For Careers In Stem, Rebecca S. Powers

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative study examines the perspectives of six bilingual Latino students regarding their experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses in high school, and how these experiences influenced their decision to pursue STEM careers. Using Norton-Peirce's investment theory as a theoretical framework along with Gay’s culturally responsive pedagogy, the study explores how participants' identities, social and cultural capital, and ideologies interact with their educational experiences.

The findings reveal that family involvement, bilingual mentors, and students' funds of knowledge played a crucial role in their academic success and career choice. However, participants also faced significant challenges, including: segregation, negative …

Reimagining Traditional Education Through Humanizing Models Of Personalized Learning: Examining Implementation In The Midwest, Laura R. Garland

Dissertations of Practice

ABSTRACT

REIMAGINING TRADITIONAL EDUCATION THROUGH HUMANIZING MODELS OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING: EXAMINING IMPLEMENTATION IN THE MIDWEST

Laura Garland, EdD

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Northern Illinois University, 2025

Michael Manderino, Director

This qualitative document analysis, supported by semi-structured interviews, investigated the ways in which three Midwestern, K-12 public school districts implemented humanizing models of personalized learning, as a method of shifting from a traditional, teacher-centered instructional paradigm to a learner-centered one. Additionally, it sought to identify how the pedagogical attributes employed in participant districts explicitly and implicitly aligned with humanizing pedagogies. Participant districts were chosen based on their relationship with the …

Devising Optimized Maize Nitrogen Stress Indices In Complex Field Conditions From Uav Hyperspectral Imagery, Jiating Li, Yufeng Ge, Laila A. Puntel, Derek M. Heeren, Geng Bai, Guillermo R. Balboa, John A. Gamon, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Yeyin Shi

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen Sufficiency Index (NSI) is an important nitrogen (N) stress indicator for precision N management. It is usually calculated using variables such as leaf chlorophyll meter readings (SPAD) and vegetation indices (VIs). However, no consensus has been reached on the most preferred variable. Additionally, conventional NSI (NSI_uni) calculation assumes N being the sole yield-limiting factor, neglecting other factors such as soil water variability. To tackle these issues, this study compared various variables for NSI calculation and evaluated two new N stress indicators in minimizing the impact of confounding water treatment. The following ground- and aerial-derived variables were compared …

Proficiency And Positivity: Investigating Learner Affect Toward L2 Instructional Methods, Learner Goals, And L2 Success, Natalie Spiva

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Second language (L2) learning outcomes vary widely due to factors both internal and external to the learner, including learning and usage contexts and learner goals and motivations. Learners may feel more proficient in and positive towards an L2 if they have intrinsic motivation and positive experience with the L2. Many students in the United States are first exposed to an L2 later in life as an academic requirement, which often impedes L2 learning success and can limit the learner’s relationship with the L2 and related cultures. Because of the highly interconnected global society, investigating the experiences of today’s language learners …

Effects Of Regulations On Digital Asset Prices: Evidence From The Counter-Strike Game Series, John Logan Stewart

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 are first-person-shooter video games in which players can own cosmetics for their weapons, known as “skins”. These skins can be traded, bought, or sold through various means. This study seeks to examine the effects of a regulation implemented by developers of the game which banned the sale and trade of a common tax-free medium of exchange (case keys) for these skins and seeks to classify them as either a utility-based collectible or purely a digital commodity like cryptocurrencies. Using a novel and expansive panel data set gathered from the Steam Market and econometric models …

The Influence Of Sustainable Lighting On Modern Structures And The Methods Used To Bring Artistic Elements To The Forefront Of Sustainable Lighting Design, Abigail Abrams

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Sustainability in architecture is a broad subject in the discipline that has been gaining popularity across the globe for the past three decades. While sustainable technologies are heavily researched, more specific methods in which sustainability blends within a building are infrequently studied. In particular, the way sustainability is integrated into the lighting design of buildings is a topic receiving limited study from architects and researchers alike. This paper and project explore the methods modern architects use in establishing a design-centered lighting system throughout a building that reflects a new age of building materials, sustainable technology, and construction practices. Using architectural …

The Effects Of The Replication Crisis Instruction On Skepticism, Ericka Hoppes

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Over the past decade, there has been growing concern regarding the Replication Crisis in psychology. The crisis has called into question the credibility of psychological research by highlighting the field’s difficulty in reproducing findings (Open Science Collaboration, 2015), as well as the prevalence of questionable research practices amongst psychologists (e.g., p-hacking, falsifying data, incomplete reporting of measures, etc.). Given that the crisis presents psychological research through a critical lens, learning about the aspects of the crisis can be a useful pedagogical tool for helping students develop a healthy sense of skepticism regarding scientific studies. The present study investigated how teaching …

Perceptions Of Teachers, Administrators And Counselors On The Adaptation And Integration Of Social Emotional Learning Standards In Academic Settings, Meva Black Rhooms

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study aims to explore the perceptions of teachers, administrators, and counselors on the definition, adaptation, and integration of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within Mae Wright School District. The district’s commitment to educating the whole child has prompted efforts to incorporate SEL into the academic and social environments. Through semi-structured interviews, this study examines how teachers, administrators, and counselors define SEL and their perceptions on the adaptation and integration of SEL standards in academic settings.. Findings reveal diverse interpretations of SEL, with varying levels of support and understanding among participants. Teachers highlighted the need for practical strategies, while administrators …

Undergraduate Catalog Of Studies, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Undergraduate Catalog of Studies

No abstract provided.

2024 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative is a network for public agencies that serves the San Diego region to share expertise, leverage resources and advance comprehensive solutions to facilitate climate change planning. By partnering with academia, nonprofits, and businesses, the SDRCC also works to leverage the profile of regional leadership. This is the 2024 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report.

A Landscape Analysis Of Civic And Community Engagement In Community Colleges, Carrie Kisker, Carol Cutler White, Stephanie King, Janet Johnson, Will Bowlin

CoE Publications

Providing opportunities for civic learning and democratic engagement has been central to the community college mission for over 100 years. This report presents findings from the 2024 AmeriCorps Civic Engagement among Community Colleges Project (ACECCP) survey, highlighting the ways and extent to which community colleges demonstrate an intentional commitment to civic and community engagement, illustrating how they incorporate this intentionality into curricular and co-curricular structures, and identifying the barriers and challenges that may preclude some colleges from engaging more fully in their civic mission. The report offers recommendations for future research on the positive impacts of community colleges in their …

Influence Of Biochar On Rooting And Establishment Of Chamaecyparis And Thuga Species, Megan Mudd

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study investigated the effects of biochar amendment on the rooting and establishment of evergreen propagules, thus addressing the critical need for improved nutrient use efficiency and water retention in containerized substrates within the horticulture and floriculture industry. Biochar, a product of biomass pyrolysis, offers promising potential due to its high porosity and surface area, which contribute to enhanced soil fertility and water retention. Two experiments were conducted, one in a greenhouse and the other in a cold frame, using cuttings from Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Vintage Gold’, and Thuja occidentalis ‘Emerald Green’. Treatments included varying percentages of biochar …

Analysis Of Computational Approaches To Cognitive Diagnosis, Andrew Toussaint

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Access to good education is crucial to the well-being of individuals as well as communities. Recent technological advancements in the field of computer science show promise of generating precise descriptions of student cognitive states regarding specified knowledge concepts through a process called cognitive diagnosis. This can facilitate the creation of more targeted lesson plans and more personalized educational software. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of four computerized cognitive diagnosis models. The models include three existing models: Item Response Theory, Neural Cognitive Diagnosis, Knowledge Association Neural Cognitive Diagnosis, and a proposed model, Concept Agnostic Knowledge Evaluation, which was used …

Developing Phenanthroimidazole-Based Fluorescent Sensors For Efficient Analyte Detection, Brian Kellogg

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The highly efficient design and synthesis of organic fluorophores with an excellent quantum yield have received extensive attention. Compared with instrumental techniques, fluorescent sensors derived from organic small molecules offer many impressive benefits, such as selective detection, lower cost, and higher efficiency. Various detection mechanisms such as colorimetric, ratiometric, and fluorescence turn on/off have been reported for single analyte detection. Developing molecular probes that are capable of detecting two (or more than two) different analytes (cations, anions, and/or biomolecules) had emerged as a new research area and attracted considerable attention in the field of chemo- and biosensors.

Phenanthroimidazole represents a …

Rain-On-Snow Event Climatology And Hydrological Impacts In The Connecticut River Watershed, Samuel Davidson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Rain-on-snow events, characterized by rain falling on existing snowpack, have the potential to bring about significant hydrological and environmental impacts including snowmelt, flooding, landslides, and other natural hazards. Despite prior evidence suggesting the Connecticut River Watershed has endured socioeconomic and environmental setbacks due to rain-on-snow events in the past, limited prior research has been performed on the role of rain-onsnow events within the region’s hydroclimatology. Gaining a deeper understanding of the occurrence and impacts of such events would provide valuable insights for risk and water resource managers. The purpose of this research was to create a climatology of rain-on-snow events …

Deriving The Efficiency Of Electron Acceleration Within Current Sheets In The May 8th, 2021 Solar Flare Using A Centroid Analysis Method On Stix X-Ray Data, Isaiah Beauchamp

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Solar flares are powerful explosions that take place on the Sun, equivalent to a billion atomic bombs, and eject billions of tons of material into space. Flares that reach Earth can disrupt power grids and damage satellite communication systems, presenting challenges for our national security. Studying solar flares is crucial to better understand and prepare for these events.

During a solar flare, electrons are accelerated into the surrounding plasma. The interaction between electrons and heavier particles within the plasma causes the emission of powerful X-rays. Studying X-rays from solar flares can, therefore, provide insight into the accelerated electrons that produce …

Provenance Of Clastic Rocks In The Inner Hornsund Trough, Svalbard, Noah Riccardi

Geology Honors Projects

Late Paleozoic clastic sedimentary rocks in the Inner Hornsund Trough (IHT) in southern Svalbard represent an archive of regional tectonic events and are key to accurate paleogeographic reconstructions of the Arctic. To tap this archive, ~1800 detrital zircon grains were separated and analyzed from six total samples of sedimentary rock, including samples from both sides of the Hornsund fjord. Two samples came from the Marietoppen formation (Late Devonian), and four from the Adriabukta formation (Late Devonian and/or earliest Carboniferous). Detrital zircon U-Pb age spectra from both units are similar, with the majority of analyzed grains falling in the 1.0-2.0 Ga …

School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports As A Framework For Equity: Addressing The Discipline And Academic Achievement Gap In Minnesota Schools, Amy Danielle Mcguire

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to state-level legislative initiatives, many Minnesota schools have implemented Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve student behavior and school climate, guided in part by the assumption that these improvements will lead to higher academic achievement. This study explored the possible association between PBIS implementation and academic proficiency among third-grade students, focusing on reading and mathematics outcomes on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). A t-test was conducted to determine whether statistically significant differences existed in MCA proficiency rates between elementary schools that had implemented PBIS with fidelity and those that had not. Results indicated no significant differences …

Airline Quality Rating 2024 & 2025, Andrea Irish

Airline Quality Rating Report

The Airline Quality Rating Report is a product of academic research from the previous co-authors Dr. Dean Headley and Dr. Brent Bowen. The research originated at the W. Frank Barton School of Business, Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. Throughout the 34 years this rigorous research has been conducted at the University of Nebraska, Purdue University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Dr. Bowen and Dr. Headley’s research on the development of the national Airline Quality Rating (AQR) is viewed by more than 75 million people each year and is annually featured by national news outlets such as ABC’s Good Morning America, …

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy In Mathematics Education, Efe Mensah-Brown

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The literature review explored how Ladson-Billings’ (1995) definition of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), with the three tenets of academic achievement, cultural competence and sociopolitical consciousness, could be used in mathematics education. The use of CRP in mathematics education to positively transform mathematics instruction and combat racial stereotypes by improving the mathematics identities of all students was explored. The research found that the integration of CRP in mathematics education improved the academic success of students by making the mathematics more engaging and relevant. The research also showed that the use of CRP in mathematics education positively influenced students’ mathematics identities. For …

Investigating The Relationship Of Feminization Of Education And Teacher Attrition, Kate Irene Toriseva Trosen

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The feminization of teaching has taken place over multiple centuries, born of a mixture of social-political movements which reveal current complex issues leading to a shortage of young women entering and staying in education careers. Through a review of literature and study on the subjects of educational feminization, teacher attrition, and female workplace concerns and preferences, this thesis assessed the correlations between current teacher shortages and female-based causes and solutions. By assessing these reasons, studying the working habits of women, and evaluating teachers’ reported concerns and reasons for leaving the classroom, this literature review identified important causational effects directly related …

The Unsurprising Lack Of Deia In Nasa’S Pathways Program Hiring Patterns, Shelita Augustus, Tiasia Saunders

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Working for NASA, a symbol of exploration and scientific advancement, is a dream for many, sparking aspirations of becoming an astronaut and contributing to humanity's understanding of the unknown universe. However, the path to a NASA career is often filled with unfair challenges and barriers, particularly for talented individuals from underrepresented groups who have no control over systemic bias. NASA's Pathways Program is an entry point for undergraduate and graduate students seeking opportunities within the agency with a highly competitive hiring rate of only 1.4% between the fiscal years (FY) of 2021 to 2024. While NASA publicly affirmed its commitment …

Delineating Ecologically Distinct Groups For Annual Cycle Management Of A Declining Shorebird, E. C. Knight, J. Carlisle, A. J. Boyce, D. Bradley, P. Cimprich, S. Coates, L. A. Powell Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Relationship Between Discovery Learning And Students' Engagement And Knowledge Acquisition In Montessori And Traditional Schools, Jessica Phelps

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examines the relationship between discovery learning and student engagement and knowledge acquisition in Montessori versus traditional schools within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). This study, grounded in constructivist and experiential learning theories, compared Montessori schools with traditional schools in DISD. A sample of middle school students, grades 6-8, participated in the research. Data was collected through standardized engagement surveys, academic assessments, and classroom observations. A comparative non-experimental design was employed to analyze differences in engagement and knowledge outcomes between the two educational approaches. Findings revealed that instructional method was not a significant predictor of student engagement, …

Icipe Monthly Digest – Volume 1, Issue 1, January 2025, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Profile: Innovation Through The Liberal Arts, Communications And Marketing

Profile (1996-)

In this issue: Alumnus Chooses to Pay It Forward with Scholarships ; Gallant Makes the Most of Scholarships ; Newell Gives Back with Entrepreneurship Class ; Giving Allows Students to Get Business Ownership Experience ; Competitive Ethics Team Earns National Bid ; Tollefsrud Named Fulbright Finalist ; Noujdi Receives 2024 Undergraduate SEED Award ; Faculty and Staff Awards ; Hands-On Observatory Experience for Physics Students ; Zavada, Students Travel to Peru for Fulbright Research ; Morris Model Wins Second Department of Energy Competition ; 2025 Commencement ; Spotlight: Highlighting the Degree in Three Option ; AI Philosophy Tutor: Using AI …

Lawrence University Course Catalog, 2025-2026, Lawrence University

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Perceptions Of Directors And Supervisors Of Guidance As It Pertains To Counselors Preparing High School Students For Their Future Careers, Kitty R. Klein

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

Early career awareness is essential in guiding students to explore their strengths and interests. Counselors serve as vital constituents in helping students foster academic and personal growth, while also providing opportunities to build salient ramps for career exploration. Although professional literature has recognized the vital role school counselors have in promoting college and career readiness, limited research has examined how their efforts are perceived by individuals in supervisory and administrative roles. Hence, the purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of directors and supervisors of guidance on the importance and existence of career development practices. Understanding how high …

Does Land Conservation Financially Harm Renters?, Corey Lang, Jarron Vanceylon

Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Working Papers

Environmental public goods and hazards are unequally distributed, with minority and low-income communities faring far worse. While environmental improvements are likely to benefit disadvantaged groups, these improvements can increase the desirability of neighborhoods and increase housing prices. For homeowners, this yields a gain in equity but can negatively impact renters through increased housing costs. This paper seeks to evaluate how rental prices respond to gains in land conservation relative to owner-occupied home values using a panel of census and conservation data from the United States. We employ a first-difference regression model and use propensity score matching as a pre-processing method …

“Science Belongs Everywhere”: Outlooks On Post-Secondary Stem Education For Correctional Centers In Virginia, Shelita R. Augustus

Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success Publications

Virginia has an incarceration rate of 679 per 100,000 residents, the highest among independent democratic nations. This scoping review examines perspectives on post-secondary STEM education to promote STEM education within Virginia's correctional facilities, assesses programs to improve rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and address systemic inequalities by developing the scientific potential of incarcerated individuals. The review finds that while STEM education in correctional facilities faces limitations, its potential benefits are being realized nationwide. Virginia has made strides through initiatives like House Bill 2158, which aims to expand higher education access for incarcerated individuals. Examples such as the programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds …