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Autobiographical Meaning Making Protects The Sense Of Self-Continuity Past Forced Migration, Christin Camia, Rida Zafar

All Works

Forced migration changes people’s lives and their sense of self-continuity fundamentally. One memory-based mechanism to protect the sense of self-continuity and psychological well-being is autobiographical meaning making, enabling individuals to explain change in personality and life by connecting personal experiences and other distant parts of life to the self and its development. Aiming to replicate and extend prior research, the current study investigated whether autobiographical meaning making has the potential to support the sense of self-continuity in refugees. We therefore collected life narratives from 31 refugees that were coded for autobiographical reasoning, selfevent connections, and global narrative coherence. In line …

Are Happier Nations More Responsible? Examining The Link Between Happiness And Sustainability, Yomna M. Sameer, Suzanna Elmassah, Charilaos Mertzanis, Lujain El-Maghraby

All Works

The paper uses aggregate data from 152 countries to analyze the association between happiness and sustainability. Our paper provides new evidence on happiness and sustainability. Taking a psychological approach, happiness is linked to hedonism and reflects individual perceptions of quality of life and life satisfaction. Sustainability reflects the extent of meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals which includes responsible consumption. In order to elucidate the link, the analysis examines separately the association between happiness, consumption, sustainability and responsible behavior. The results document a positive and significant association between them, which remains broadly robust subject to various controls, sensitivity and endogeneity …

Emotional Dimensions Of Teaching In Elementary Education Preparation, Kathleen M. Crawford, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Katherine Fallon

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Publications

Student teaching is a pivotal event in teacher education preparation programs, and there is a need to investigate emotions in teaching. This study examined how one elementary program navigated the emotional dimensions of teaching. Findings revealed that the emotional dimensions of student teachers were influenced by individualized factors unique to the teacher; certain emotions were perceived as more acceptable to express; and supervisors needed to support student teachers to manage and respond to the emotional dimensions of teaching. The recommendation is to go beyond the technical and academic aspects of teaching and address the emotional dimensions to best prepare the …

School Counselors' Use Of A Multitier System Of Support To Foster Safe School Experiences And Respond To School Violence, George Padilla, Clarissa L. Salinas, Javier Cavazos Vela, James F. Whittenberg

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

In this chapter, the authors introduce and identify current issues, controversies and problems that influence school safety and counselor preparedness. A brief overview of school violence in America, counselors' training to deal with school violence, and factors that influence school violence are provided. Following this, the authors present a multitier system of supports (MTSS) as a recommended model for counselors to (1) prevent, (2) prepare and plan, (3) respond, and (4) lead recovery efforts as related to school violence. Finally, a case study is presented in which the authors apply best practices within the American Counselor Association's national framework to …

The Relationship Between Cardiovascular Fitness And Body Mass Index To Student Achievement In 5th Grade Hispanic Children Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, Maricela Hernandez, Rosalinda Hernandez, Alejandro Garcia

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between cardiovascular fitness, body mass index and academic performance in 547 Hispanic children in 5th grade from a Rio Grande Valley school district. The dependent variable, academic performance, was measured by children’s gain score on the STAAR Progress Measure for Reading and Math assessments. The independent variables of physical fitness were measured by scores on cardiovascular fitness and body mass index from the FITNESSGRAM assessment. The statistical and data analysis method used by this study utilized multiple regression. The results revealed that body mass index was correlated with academic …

The Impact Of Gsas, School Size, And Geographic Location On School Climate In South Texas, Heraclio Flores, Israel Aguilar, Jonathan Mcphetres, Frank Hernandez

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

While gay-straight alliances (GSAs) play a role in improving the well-being and sense of safety for LGBTQ students, additional factors such as school size, geographical location, and the community climate at large may have more controlling implications for school diversity and acceptance. This survey research type, quantitative study, investigates the retrospective responses of subjects from two Hispanic-Serving Institutions to examine the impact of GSAs, school size, and geographic location on school climates in rural South Texas high schools. Results suggest that the effect of GSAs on school diversity and acceptance may be diminished in a conservative, rural setting. Other factors …

Flipping A Virtual Efl Public Speaking Class Integrated With Moocs During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Zhuo Li, Xiaodi Zhou

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This case study explored Chinese undergraduate EFL students’ attitudes to and perceptions of an online English public speaking course, which employs a virtual flipped classroom model and MOOCs during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Since all classes were moved online, a previously flipped public speaking course integrated with MOOCs was converted into a virtual flipped classroom. All 25 participants of the study were undergraduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. Zoom, Blackboard, and QQ instant messenger were platforms utilized in instruction. There were weekly two-hour Zoom meetings with learning activities using MOOCs on Blackboard. The study collected …

Campus Recreation And Fitness Center Utilization During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Keagan Kiely, William Mase, Bridget F. Melton, Haresh Rochani Dr.

Health Sciences & Kinesiology: Faculty Publications

Background

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has far reaching effects for college students' health and physical activity behaviors. This analysis focuses on university student fitness center usage pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers hypothesized a reduction in fitness center utilization when comparing Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 utilization rates.

Methods

Patterns of the recreation center and fitness center utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic are compared to pre-pandemic patterns of a matched time period in the previous academic year in an observational study. Overall utilization was evaluated using secondary data from the university’s recreation center data system. Six weeks …

Fall 2021 Honors Graduates, Georgia Southern University, Honors College

Honors College: Graduate Brochures (2021-2022)

The Honors College is an inclusive community of scholars that fosters intellectual and professional development through undergraduate research and creative scholarship, experiential learning, global engagement, and personalized mentorship.

Spring 2021 Honors Graduates, Georgia Southern University, Honors College

Honors College: Graduate Brochures (2021-2022)

No abstract provided.

Why Aren't My Students Reading: Faculty & Student Research Unveiling The Hidden Curriculum Of Course Material Usage, Jayne R. Goode, Kerri K. Morris, Bradley Smith, J. Christopher Tweddle

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This reflective essay follows a faculty working group as they attempt to understand barriers to access to course materials through the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Through the workgroup’s research and collaboration with students in a problem-based learning course, the workgroup uncovered elements of the hidden curriculum in assumptions regarding course material procurement. The collaboration has served as the foundation for efforts to begin to transform the way that faculty on campus make use of textbooks and course materials in their courses. This transformation should make explicit to faculty that the utilization of course materials for all aspects of …

High Impact Learning For Facilitator Training And Development, Launa Gauthier, Yasira Waqar

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Research shows that cascade training models are common approaches to improving teaching in many developing countries. Cascade models are popular for reaching large cohorts of teachers in a short time and often at a low cost. However, they have been criticized because training efforts can get diluted and transmission modes of instruction tend to prevail across all tiers of the cascade. In this essay, we discuss the development and implementation of the Facilitator Training Program (FTP) at a university in Pakistan. The FTP supports high impact learning for new facilitators to develop pedagogical knowledge and instructional and facilitation skills needed …

Supporting Stem Faculty Of Large Enrollment Undergraduate Courses: A Mixed Methods Study Of Impact, Lindsay B. Wheeler

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

A plethora of literature exists identifying the importance of engaging students in learning within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) undergraduate courses, making professional development (PD) for faculty teaching these courses vital. Yet few studies of PD programs focus on STEM faculty, incorporate direct measures of faculty practice, and seek to understand the student experience in courses taught by these faculty. In this study, I examine the impact of a program for faculty teaching large enrollment STEM courses on their perceptions, instructional practices, and student perceptions of learning. The program included a week-long course design institute (35 hrs) and a …

Student-Generated Questions: Developing Mathematical Competence Through Online-Assessment, Sima Caspari-Sadeghi, Brigitte Forster-Heinlein, Jutta Maegdefrau, Lena Bachl

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This action research study presents the findings of using a formative assessment strategy in an online mathematic course during the world-wide outbreak of Covid-19 at the University of Passau, Germany. The main goals of this study were (a) to enhance students’ self-regulated learning by shifting the direction of assessment from instructors to the students, (b) to promote deep active learning in mathematics. Students were required to conduct self-regulated learning on a selected topic. They were encouraged to formulate two multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and pose them after each presentation in an online course. The effectiveness of Student-generated Questions (SGQs) as a …

Prepared To Respond? Investigating Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Readiness For Culturally Responsive Teaching, Alicia L. Moore, Rebecca M. Giles, Paige Vitulli

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Increasing cultural diversity in American schools has made preparing graduates to work with diverse learners an essential goal of teacher education programs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of elementary (K-6) undergraduate preservice teachers (n=36) in a dual certification program regarding their personal and professional readiness for culturally responsive teaching. Data collected using the Cultural Responsive Teaching Readiness Scale (Karatas & Oral, 2017) revealed relatively high mean overall with little variation (M = 4.25, SD = 0.18) with a statistically significant difference (t (33) = 18.65, p < .001) between Personal Readiness (M = 4.46) and Professional Readiness (M = 3.98). Participants seemed to perceive classroom practice as influential in terms of their cultural awareness, thus, indicating the importance of partnerships with area schools and districts to ensure effective field experiences for preparing teachers for sustained employment in culturally and linguistically diverse settings.

Becoming Inclusive Teacher Educators: Self-Study As A Professional Learning Tool, Saiqa Azam Dr., Karen C. Goodnough, Alireza Moghaddam Dr., Christine Arnold Dr., Sharon Penney, Gabrielle D. Young, Kimberly Maich

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This article describes a self-study inquiry project designed and conducted by a self-study group at a Faculty of Education in an Atlantic Canadian University. The seven-member group engaged in a collaborative self-study inquiry while adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in their teacher education practices and documented their professional learning. This yearlong self-study inquiry project encompassed several data collection methods to examine inclusive practices of self-study group members, including personal reflections, minutes of weekly meetings, artifacts, and field notes. This article focuses on how UDL provided a means for three group members to critically examine their inclusive practices at …

Effectiveness Of Group Work Contracts To Facilitate Collaborative Group Learning And Reduce Anxiety In Traditional Face-To-Face Lecture And Online Distance Education Course Formats, Sydney F. Brannen, David Beauchamp, Nadia M. Cartwright, Danyelle M. Liddle, Justine M. Tishinsky, Genevieve Newton, Jennifer M. Monk

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Group work (GW) in undergraduate education facilitates the development of communication and collaborative skills. However, dysfunctional and inequitable group dynamics can have adverse effects, leading to increased anxiety. This research sought to determine the effectiveness of a Group Work Contract to facilitate the GW process in the face-to-face (n=168) and online (n=105) formats of a third year nutritional science course. Changes in students’ attitudes and approaches to GW were assessed before (semester week 4) and after (semester week 12) completion of the contract and assignment via online surveys. The results in both course formats were similar, wherein the Group Work …

"Dope Syllabus": Student Impressions Of An Infographic-Style Visual Syllabus, Angel W. Kaur

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Despite its importance in the classroom, there has been limited research into the functional design of the syllabus as a means to motivate students to read and use it. This mixed methods study investigates student impressions of a 4-page full-length infographic-style visual syllabus. Identically formatted infographic syllabi were used in three courses with different student populations—a freshman seminar, a 300-level elective liberal arts course, and a 400-level minor elective course. Students completed a short questionnaire to capture their immediate reactions to the syllabus, followed by a longer questionnaire at the end of the semester. Across class standing, students strongly preferred …

Exploring Exceptional Education Preservice Teachers’ Mathematics Anxiety, Gina Gresham Dr.

International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

This study investigated preservice teachers’ levels of mathematics anxiety before and after a mathematics methods course. Changes were measured using manipulatives and other activities to make mathematics concepts more concrete and meaningful. Both quantitative and qualitative measures were utilized. Informal discussions, informal interviews, and questionnaire-guided narrative interviews were conducted. Data revealed a statistically significant reduction in mathematics anxiety (p < .001). Results have implications for teacher education programs concerning the measurement of mathematics anxiety levels among exceptional education preservice teachers and the determination of specific contexts in which mathematics anxiety can be interpreted and reduced.

Reflector Magazine, Georgia Southern University

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Professional Development For Working With Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders And Teacher Self-Efficacy, Alison Johnson, Lina Soares, Antonio P. Gutierrez De Blume

Georgia Educational Researcher

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effect of teacher professional development for working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and teacher (N = 56) self-efficacy in the general education classroom. A pretest/posttest quasi-experimental research design was implemented. Teachers in one randomly assigned school received professional development training on research-based practices in working with students with autism to determine if the training had any effect on their perceived self-efficacy ratings and teachers in the other school were randomly assigned to serve as the control (i.e., no additional professional development training was provided during the research phase). …

2020-2021 Georgia Southern University Women's Basketball Roster, Georgia Southern University

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2021 Georgia Southern University Football Roster, Georgia Southern University

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A New Explanation For Samuelson’S Dictum And The Stock Market: Novel Events And Knightian Uncertainty, Nicholas Mangee

Finance: Faculty Publications

Samuelson’s Dictum argues that aggregate stock markets do not convincingly reflect information on fundamentals, such as dividends or earnings, and are, thus, inefficient in setting prices. By contrast, firm-level stock prices share a much closer connection with fundamentals and are, therefore, deemed relatively efficient. This paper presents an alternative explanation: Knightian uncertainty stemming from historically unique events produces differential impacts on investor forecasting bounds at the aggregate versus firm level. Several uncertainty proxies are employed from millions of unscheduled events identified in the universe of Dow Jones & Co. financial news reports over the last twenty years. Uncertainty based on …

Graduate Catalog, Georgia Southern University

Graduate Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Improving Higher-Order Comprehension Skills Of Grade 3 Learners In A Second Language At A Quintile 2 School, In Cape Town, South Africa, Vuyokazi Fatyela, Janet Condy, Lawrence Meda, Heather Phillips

All Works

Background: Developing higher-order comprehension skills of learners in primary schools is a challenge that faces many countries. South Africa is no exception. Primary school learners in South Africa have particularly low literacy and comprehension skills: many learners struggle to read for understanding. There is little published scholarship that focuses on developing the comprehension skills of Grade 3 learners in a second language. A lack of practical classroom knowledge in this area is what this article seeks to address. Objectives: To improve the higher-order comprehension skills of Grade 3 learners in a second language. Method: A qualitative approach, using a case …

The Exclusivity Of The Christian Faith: A Case For Christ-Alone In A Culture Of Relativism, Brandon Keith Sinclair

Masters Theses

The proposition of absolute and exclusive truth in a culture permeated by relativism is among the most important discussions of today. The answer to this dilemma is imperative. Relativism has not only taken captive secular society, it has infiltrated the thinking of many professing Christians. The traditional Christian message has always been one of exclusivity and Christ-alone. The challenge for the Christian Apologist in a culture of relativism is three-fold: Establish the existence of absolute and exclusive truth, nullify the arguments presented by relativism as unreasonable, illogical, and fallible, and to make a solid case for the unsurpassable uniqueness of …

Animal Assisted Intervention And How It Can Improve Attention And Positive Emotion, Alexis D. Mcintosh

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine if animal-assisted intervention, known as ATT, can improve a person's attention span and assist with a better emotional state. In this study, attention is being measured by a facial recognition attention task, and emotional state is being measured by a portion of the Watson and Clark (1994) Emotional State-Adult Protocol. Animals may not have words with which to communicate; however, they can, and do, respond to emotional distress when they have been correctly trained. There have been numerous studies in which this kind of therapy has successfully helped a client to improve …

Immortality Through Mind Uploading And Resurrection, Adam M. Leis

Masters Theses

Technology in the last century has flourished exponentially. Previous fantasies are becoming cutting-edge discoveries like global communications, encyclopedic knowledge at the average person’s fingertips, and even medical advances used to improve and extend one’s quality of life and life expectancy. As technology pushes the boundaries of what is possible, ambitious visionaries look to solve the arguably greatest problem known to humanity: death. Transhumanists aiming to use technology to overcome this great human limitation, mortality, present the newest proposed solutions to life’s oldest challenge. One of these solutions, mind uploading, is perhaps the most ambitious, but it is not without its …

Fight Navigator: Exploring The Feasibility Of A Retaliatory Violence Prevention Program To Help Youth Manage The Code Of The Street, James Barrett, William Pollack, Elizabeth Janopaul-Naylor, Marvin So, Vincenzo Teran, Elizabeth Stilwell

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Journal

Violence remains the leading cause of injury and death for people between the ages of 15 and 24 and presents a challenge for communities of color. Better understanding of the context surrounding violence is critical in order to develop effective prevention interventions. We conducted a two-phase, qualitative, feasibility study to develop and initially evaluate a retaliatory violence program, Fight Navigator. Focus groups (n=20) and semi-structured case vignette interviews (n=20) were conducted with the target population that were analyzed using a consensual qualitative research approach. Findings suggest that participants were more likely to believe that conflicts could be resolved without violence …