Digital Commons Network^™

A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe and explore the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9 in southern Ohio. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Maslach’s burnout theory. The central research question was “What are the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9?” Convenience sampling was employed to select the 12 participants, all of whom are teachers teaching in Grades 4–9 within Sunshine County, a rural Appalachia-based school qualifying as a Title I institution in southern Ohio. The data presented in this study were collected …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Teacher Leader Experience, Leslie Magnanti

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of teachers in leadership roles in a rural, secondary school setting. The theory guiding this study was the theory of distributed leadership created by Spillane and developed by Groff, as it explained the power of teacher leadership as a method of distributing leadership to promote teacher retention and motivation alleviating some principal stress and burnout. Data was collected using interviews of the ten participants to better understand how teachers experience leadership and how administrators can promote it, focus groups to understand the phenomenon in more depth, and …

The Relationship Between Participation In Chorus And The Acquisition Of Higher-Order Reasoning Skills Among Middle School Students, Jason M. Streun

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This predictive correlational study examined the relationship between participation in chorus and the acquisition of higher-order reasoning skills among middle school students. Although the education profession focuses on ways to engender higher-order reasoning skills in their students, today’s high-stakes climate so rigorously addresses STEM subjects that it tends to ostracize music from the discussion. Thus, the significance of this study lies partly in its endeavor to better understand the connection between linguistic development and reasoning, the positive influence that participation in choral music can potentially wield in the acquisition and improvement of linguistic skill, and, correspondingly, the attainment of higher-order …

Analyzing The Effects Of Atmospheric Turbulent Fluctuations On The Wake Structure Of Wind Turbines And Their Blade Vibrational Dynamics, Alayna Farrell, Fernando Ponta, Apurva Baruah

Michigan Tech Publications

In recent trends, a rising demand for renewable energy has driven wind turbines to larger proportions, where lighter blade designs are often adopted to reduce the costs associated with logistics and production. This causes modern utility-scale wind turbine blades to be inherently more flexible, and their amplified aeroelastic sensitivity results in complex multi-physics reactions to variant atmospheric conditions, including dynamic patterns of aerodynamic loading at the rotor and vortex structure evolutions within the wake. In this paper, we analyze the influence of inflow variance for wind turbines with large, flexible rotors through simulations of the National Rotor Testbed (NRT) turbine, …

Achieveing Higher Computational Performance For Direct Volume Rendering, Charlie Issac Perkins

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Using Functional Principal Component Analysis (Fpca) To Quantify Sitting Patterns Derived From Wearable Sensors., Rong W. Zablocki, Sheri J. Hartman, Chongzhi Di, Jingjing Zou, Jordan A. Carlson, Paul R. Hibbing, Dori E. Rosenberg, Mikael Anne Greenwood-Hickman, Lindsay Dillon, Andrea Z. Lacroix, Loki Natarajan

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior (SB) is a recognized risk factor for many chronic diseases. ActiGraph and activPAL are two commonly used wearable accelerometers in SB research. The former measures body movement and the latter measures body posture. The goal of the current study is to quantify the pattern and variation of movement (by ActiGraph activity counts) during activPAL-identified sitting events, and examine associations between patterns and health-related outcomes, such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP).

METHODS: The current study included 314 overweight postmenopausal women, who were instructed to wear an activPAL (at thigh) and ActiGraph (at waist) simultaneously …

A Survey Of The Murray State University Csis Department Of Student And Instructor Attitudes In Relation To Earlier Introduction Of Version Control Systems, Gavin Johnson

Honors College Theses

Over the previous 20 years, the software development industry has overseen an evolution in application of Version Control Systems (VCS) from a Centralized Version Control System (CVCS) format to a Decentralized Version Control Format (DVCS). Examples of the former include Perforce and Subversion whilst the latter of the two include Github and BitBucket. As DVCS models allow software contributors to maintain their respective local repositories of relevant code bases, developers are able to work offline and maintain their work with relative fault tolerance. This contrasts to CVCS models, which require software contributors to be connected online to a main server. …

The Academic Achievement Gap And The Cultural Experiences Of Black College Students: A Phenomenological Study, Sonia Barnett

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The United States education system has faced an academic achievement gap that outlines a disparity in students’ academic performance. This phenomenological study will discover the relationships between the educational achievement gap and the culturally related experiences of Black adult college students in Northern Virginia. A theoretical framework that the researcher observed is transcendental phenomenology (TPh). which was developed mainly by Husserl as a philosophical approach to qualitative research methodology that seeks to understand human experience by looking at how Black college students perceive their culturally related experiences. The researcher collected data using the purposive sampling strategy through focus groups, interviews, …

Stem Smart Goal Planning For Elementary Educators In Rural North Texas: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Katherine Marie Mccandless

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experience of educators setting pre-STEMs SMART goals and implementation at the elementary classroom level in rural North Texas districts. The pre-STEM areas are important to develop and intervene early as they are foundational building blocks later to STEM education and professional opportunities for the rural population. The study's central research question was: What are the experiences of elementary educators in planning STEM SMART goals? The theory guiding the study is Locke's goal-setting theory (1968), based on his five tenets. The tenets of Locke's theory were used to guide …

Recommendations To Improve Social-Emotional Learning For Students With Disabilities At The Virginia School For The Deaf And The Blind In Virginia, Rebecca J. White

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study is to provide recommendations to improve social-emotional learning for students with disabilities at The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Virginia. The problem is that social-emotional learning practices need improving since 80% of teachers at The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind reported a lack of social and emotional skills in students on the yearly Needs Assessment Survey (The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Needs Assessment Survey, 2022). The rationale for this research is the importance of improving the development of social-emotional skills in students with disabilities. …

Special Education Teachers' Experiences Addressing Mental Health Concerns In Students With Comorbid Disabilities: A Phenomenological Study, Alison L. Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of special education teachers in public schools regarding addressing mental health needs in their students experiencing comorbid disabilities. The theory guiding this study was contextual organizational framework as it applies to individual special education teachers addressing comorbid mental health concerns in their students. The research addresses the central research question: What experiences within the organizational context(s) do special education teachers describe with regard to working with special education students with comorbid mental health disorders? All participants were special education teachers in either elementary or secondary schools, who …

"More Nobility Of Soul": Honor At The United States Naval Academy, 1845-1875, Samuel J. Limneos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An import from the old European world, the new United States and its incipient national navy inherited a fierce honor culture that valued aggressiveness, impetuousness, defiance, boldness, and courage. In 1845, the Navy brought the education of midshipmen, the service’s youngest corps of junior officers to Annapolis, where it established the United States Naval School. There, the institution’s strict discipline, organization and order inculcated the midshipmen in the expectations of an officer and gentleman and subjected them to unprecedented restraint as a matter of duty. The midshipmen reacted to this restraint and all impugnation to their vulnerable sense of honor …

Professional Development And Training For The Inclusion Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Pre-Kindergarten: A Phenomenological Study, Melinda K. Parsons- Shadid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences utilizing professional resources to aid in the early childhood education development of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder for teachers at charter schools in a large city in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The problem is that there are limited professional resources to reduce early childhood education teachers' ability to educate students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder within the general classroom. One central research question and three sub-questions explored the purpose and problem of this study, which were guided by social cognitive theory. The central research question …

An Exploratory Case Study Of Student Grit With Educational Technology In Learning Environments, Crystal Rees

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to understand the expectations Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha), those born between 2010 and 2024, has on educational technology (edtech) in learning environments and how those students rate their grit with 12 participants in third through ninth grade. The theory guiding this study was grit theory by Angela Duckworth regarding grit. This qualitative study was conducted with 12 student participants in their learning environment using a qualitative questionnaire, student interview, and student observation during their dedicated homework time. Memoing was used during observations and interviews to record common phrases between participants when describing …

Strategies For Securing Users’ Personal Data Against Security Threats In Mcc Networks, Ijeoma Kingsley Ofuokwu

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Lack of security in Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) networks is likely to have negative consequences. Information security managers are concerned with the lack of security in MCC networks because it is the number one reason for the low implementation of MCC. Grounded in the integrated system theory of information systems, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to identify strategies necessary to secure users’ personal data against security threats in MCC networks. The participants comprised four information security managers from two financial technology organizations in Northeastern Massachusetts implementing various strategies to secure their user's data against security threats …

Administrators’ Challenges To Provide Sustainable Instruction To Children Of Military Personnel, Pamela Yvette Tucker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Military-connected students (MCSs) face academic challenges because of frequent transitions. During military parents' permanent change in duty station (PCS), MCSs are absent for 15 days or more. PCS-related absenteeism has increased over the last decade, and academic achievement has decreased. This basic qualitative capstone project study examined the challenges of high school administrators from Southeast Asian Pacific Island district schools to provide teachers with systematic professional development that supports sustainable instruction for MCSs during PCS-related absences. The conceptual framework for the study was Hersey and Blanchard's situational leadership theory (SLT). SLT suggests that administrators adopt leadership approaches to combat PCS-related …

Teacher Educator And School Administrator Perceptions Of Teacher Preparedness To Implement Culturally Responsive Practice, Gail Olivia Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of students from ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse backgrounds in K–12 public education settings has increased in the past two decades. However, 80% of teachers in public schools are White and middle-class, which does not mirror the student population. Even though higher education prepares teachers to be culturally sensitive to diverse cultures, more understanding is needed. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory single-embedded case study was to explore teacher educators’ and elementary (K–5) building administrators’ perceptions of preservice and early-career teachers’ preparedness from a university to implement culturally responsive practices for ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse students in …

An Efficient Wheel-Integrated Wireless Power Transfer System Based On High-Permittivity Metasurface, Yu Yao, Maziar Nekovee

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Efficient wireless power transfer (WPT) systems seamlessly integrated with electric vehicles (EVs) are crucial to their successful massive rollout. This paper proposes a WPT system with a high-permittivity metasurface integrated with a wheel for efficiency enhancement. The single-turn coils with coupling-enhanced rings are explored as transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx). The metasurface is composed of high-permittivity elements placed on both surfaces. The symmetric system model ensures bidirectional transmission between EVs and power grids. With the aid of the metasurface, the efficiency of the WPT system is substantially enhanced and maintained within 400 mm.

Gpr-108 Revolutionizing Reflective Learning In Higher Education: An Llm-Based Analytical Approach, Bharath Y Yadla, Mourya Teja Kunuku

C-Day Computing Showcase

This project introduces a novel LLM-based system to automate The analysis of student reflections, enhancing reflective learning in higher education. Leveraging advanced ML and NLP technologies, the system provides personalized, in-depth feedback by identifying learning outcomes and challenges. Employing the OpenAI API and LangChain framework, it offers a nuanced understanding of student learning trajectories. The methodology involves collecting data via the Minute Paper technique, enabling targeted instructional adjustments. Preliminary results indicate a significant improvement in analyzing and addressing students' educational needs.

Uc-35 Ksu Ccse Crm, Alex Curran, Dj Mitchell, Christian Miller

C-Day Computing Showcase

Our task was to select, implement and customize a CRM solution for the College of Computing and Software Engineering to more effectively manage communication with industry partners and manage projects such as capstones, and C-Day. Our team selected SuiteCRM as our recommendation and have implemented an instance on a virtual machine provided by UITS. We have customized branding including using a KSU logo provided by the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, as well as customizations based on the official KSU color pallete. The process we used to select our CRM recommendation involved gathering requirements from our sponsor and comparing …

Gc-8 Informal Learning Artificial Intelligence Large Language Model Fine-Tuning On The Select Topic Of Entrepreneurship, Kristen Gabby, Melina Castellon, Jyothi Sampathirao

C-Day Computing Showcase

This project explored the usage and development of open-source Large Language Model (LLM) Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a chat feature, specifically to fine-tune on the topic of entrepreneurship. This project sought to showcase the adaptability of open-source LLMs and highlight challenges and solutions faced in leveraging those LLMs. The primary goal was to show proof of concept that training a LLM on the selected subject can create a specialized AI chat for informal learning.

Uc-75 Mineticket Discord Ticket Management Bot, Dean Rice, Arturo Martinez, Grace Shell, Solomon Thao, Palmer Brown

C-Day Computing Showcase

We made use of the discord.py python library to manage the framework of the bot, since discord relies on a RESTful API for all of its bots. This layer of abstraction allowed us to focus on the important things, such as sanitizing inputs for SQL queries and building out a large, fully customizable feature set so future adjustments are made simple and easy as changing entries within a configuration file. Our goal was to make the bot as easy to update as possible, with the hope that, should requirements change in the future, the sponsor can quickly modify existing code …

Gc-67 Automatic Daily Financing Headlines Collection, Storage, Analysis And Presentation, Sahithi Atimamula, Jasminn O Evans, Julian Reyes, Victoria Castro, Krista G Settle

C-Day Computing Showcase

The "Automatic Daily Financing Headlines Collection, Storage, Analysis, and Presentation" project aims to streamline the process of gathering financial headlines from financial news sources, storing them systematically, performing analysis, and presenting the insights in a user-friendly format. This automation project is designed to provide timely and relevant financial information to users interested in staying informed about market trends, economic news, and financial events. By automating the entire workflow, users can stay informed, make data-driven decisions, and navigate the dynamic landscape of financial news with ease. The project embodies the fusion of automation, data analytics, and user-centric design to create a …

Uc-33 Big Munchin', Tabitha Reynolds, Steven M Amerson, David J Buck, Jacques P Gatipon, Aaliyah Mcelrath, Nick S Watson

C-Day Computing Showcase

Big Munchin' is a video game designed to help teach portioning skills and promote healthy eating habits. The overall metabolic health of individuals in America is comparatively low to other countries. Metabolic health is bolstered by several factors including exercise and a proper diet consisting of essential vitamins, proteins, and other important biomolecules.The increased cost of healthy nutrient-rich foods and a lack of proper nutritional education have hindered the overall metabolic health of modern Americans. Engaging individuals in learning more about nutritional health can be a difficult task made easier by an engaging experience that stays in the user’s minds. …

Uc-40 Asynchronous, Ryan A Whisenhunt, Peyton T Lee, Kenneth Wardlaw, Benjamin T Haaf, Carter L Good, Cory A Ridley

C-Day Computing Showcase

Cultural assimilation is the topic on the mind of the protagonist of our game, Asynchronous. Maxwell, a diplomat from a real-time world, must adapt in a foreign land where the people live turn-based lives. We explore this topic through the lens of traditional JRPG gameplay where the player must decide when to adapt to this new culture and when to act on their own accord. By representing this idea ludically, we hope to better convey the mindset and emotional state of being an outsider to the player.

Uc-73 Spacewalkers: Tilt 5, Charles D Mossor, Jacob Hundley, Ifran Ambahun, Joshua Whorton

C-Day Computing Showcase

Our project (and presentation as a whole) is to create an immersive and fun casual game experience using the Tilt 5 system. We made a tower defense game that uses the player’s input with the Tilt 5 in order to defend against enemies. By delivering a variety of enemies, levels, and towers in our game, we further enhanced the experience.

Gc-104 Edai – Ai Enabled Teaching Robot For Informal Learning, Jennifer Bower, Shane Williams, Justice Fuller

C-Day Computing Showcase

We began our project by researching various popular, open-source AI tools that are available today. After we chose to focus on ChatGPT as our AI tool, we decided on cybersecurity as our subject matter. Next, we researched traditional cybersecurity training methods used by companies to train their employees on cybersecurity issues. Our project focused on determining whether or not open-source AI tools such as ChatGPT could replace traditional cybersecurity training tools and methods for companies.

Gc-17 Crm For Ccse Department Of Ksu, Venkatesh Alla, Keerthi Nannapaneni, Vinay Kumar Rapolu

C-Day Computing Showcase

This project outlines the development of a bespoke Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system specifically designed for the College of Computer and Software Engineering (CCSE). The initiative aims to centralize customer information into a unified repository, thereby enhancing the confidentiality, management, and optimization of data and communication processes within the college. The CRM system will integrate features for detailed profiles, communication optimization, complex workflow management, document repository, and data migration to ensure efficiency and data integrity. It will also facilitate seamless interaction with Microsoft 365 and Outlook, supporting the college's operational needs and maintaining its commitment to excellence in education and …

Gc-22 Fabric Moderation Ticketing Mod For Minecraft, John Lambert, Kathy Nguyen, Hayden B Scarbrough, Dasiane Taplin

C-Day Computing Showcase

This project targets enhancing the KSU Esports program’s Minecraft server by implementing an in-game ticketing system. The system will enable players to report any instances of in-game incidents/issues seamlessly within the game environment. The integration with the KSU Minecraft Discord server will facilitate efficient communication between players and administrators. With a user-friendly interface and optimized resource usage, the system aims to streamline moderation processes.

Gc-84 Owl Cyber Defense Systems, Randolph S Gilstrap, Christopher Dunbar, Stephanie Aguirre, Ryan M Leblanc, Justin Place

C-Day Computing Showcase

Owl Cyber Defense Systems is a fictitious (for now?) start-up offering comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for small and medium businesses. Our premier flagship product is an AI Chatbot that answers security related questions and provides vetted code and security settings to secure and harden a variety of systems. Starting with the initial concept, we methodically progressed through the business planning process, carefully considering technology usage and design. This comprehensive approach ultimately enabled us to develop a robust set of client offerings. We used a hybrid approach combining Agile Scrum and traditional Waterfall methodologies to complete the project. We utilized Jira Project …