Digital Commons Network^™

Leveraging Custom Gpts For Formative Assessment And Feedback, Nari Kim, Jason Vickers, Shaimaa Alyehaibi, Chikezie Ozuzu, Xinyue Ren, Suhasini Kotcherlakota

STEMPS Faculty Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) advances, the use of custom generative pre-trained transformers (Custom GPTs) in formative assessments opens new opportunities for improving student learning and engagement. Custom GPTs increase cognitive and emotional engagement by providing timely, context-sensitive, and tailored responses based on unique learner profiles. This paper aims to investigate how custom GPT-driven formative feedback can enhance individualized learning experiences and improve student performance. This paper will discuss the promise of this AI tool, the challenges associated with its application, and recommendations for educators and academics looking to use these technologies for formative assessments.

College Students' Identity Differences In Offline And Online Learning Environment And Their Effects On Achievement Motivation, Sang-Soog Lee, Jinhee Kim, Seung Won Yu, Na Li

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The unprecedented evolution of educational technologies has transformed the learning landscape, creating distinct experiences in offline and online learning environments (OLE). However, little attention has been given to exploring students’ identities in the online learning context and how they can influence academic trajectories, limiting the development of a holistic understanding of the nature, effects, and areas of improvement in students’ identity formation in OLE. This study aims to investigate how students’ identity subcomponents differ among offline and OLE students via propensity score matching (PSM) in China, which allows us to find a doppelganger to estimate the counterfactual situation for making …

Exploring Lis Curriculum: Agency, Identity, Practices, Holly Hebert, Amanda Harrison, Rene Burress, Kelly Pryde, Lauren Hays, Fei Yu, Elizabeth Burns, Cari Cusick

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The practices of LIS educators provide agency and identity for developing LIS professionals. It is essential that LIS programs interrogate their curricula to best prepare emerging LIS professionals. The Curriculum SIG will present three projects that explore practices and curriculum for LIS training.

Dr. Amanda Harrison, Dr. Rene Burress, Kelly Pryde, Dr. Cari Cusick, and Dr. Lauren Hays, will present “Teaching Accessibility in a Library and Information Science MLS program.” LIS students must develop knowledge, skills, and awareness to create inclusive, accessible libraries (American Library Association, 2018; IFLA Standing Committee of Libraries Serving Disadvantaged Persons, 2005; Jaeger et …

Addressing Anti-Black Racism In Library And Information Science Curriculum, Amber Matthews

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This paper explores the development of the graduate course Anti-Racism in Library and Information Science that was piloted at Western University in 2022 and 2023. The one-semester (13-week) course was designed with Black-led community organizations and students contributed to anti-racist information and memory work through experiential learning partnerships. The course used critical Library and Information Science (LIS) literature alongside Black Canadian scholarly perspectives that were grounded in anti-oppression and anti-racism frameworks. The course goals were for students to develop an understanding of how race and other structural inequities inform lived experiences and tools to support collaborative community-led projects. The LIS-tailored …

How District Administrators Further The Book Banning Agenda, Kim Reichenbach Krutka

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Book banning and censorship in school libraries remain a significant barrier to intellectual freedom. Drawing on ten years of experience as a Texas school librarian, this opinion article highlights how district policies and grievance procedures empower individuals to exclude books representing marginalized identities, particularly queer and Black experiences. Using Critical Race Theory (CRT), specifically the tenets of whiteness as property and counter storytelling, the article explains how these policies uphold white privilege and dominant narratives while silencing counter-stories that validate diverse student identities. The grievance process allows a single hearing officer to overturn committee decisions without transparent reasoning, often restricting …

Research News, Grants, 2025, Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during April - June 2025.

Research News, Grants, 2025, Volume 4, Soumyajit Majumdar

Grants (2015-)

Grants and contracts awarded during October - December 2025.

Advancing The Characterization Of Geophysical Signals Through Array Processing And Artificial Intelligence, Miro Ronac Giannone

Earth Sciences Theses and Dissertations

In geophysics, seismic and infrasound observations are routinely employed to constrain the nature and origin of events. Seismoacoustics, as a discipline, is built upon the simultaneous detection and integrated analysis of these data types. This joint approach is critical not only for advancing scientific understanding but also for supporting global monitoring efforts in hazard mitigation and nuclear explosion treaty verification. The data analyzed in this dissertation were recorded by array deployments, which consist of multiple sensors arranged in predetermined configurations to enhance signal detection, resolve directionality, and quantify waveform coherence. Leveraging these array recordings, I introduce novel approaches which combine …

The Impact Of Visiting Artists On Education, Naomi Boyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this Honors Research Project was to provide an extensive resource for art educators who wish to incorporate meaningful experiential learning opportunities by bringing visiting artists into their classrooms. The first section is a brief literature review detailing the benefits of incorporating experiential learning and visiting artists in the classroom. Following the literature review are three appendices provided as resources for teachers to utilize. The first appendix pertains to Ohio-based illustrators being used as visiting artists in schools and includes a list of ten illustrators with respective profiles for each. The second appendix contains a bibliography of the …

Body Imagery: How Exercise Motivation Type Affects Self And Social Perceptions, Alexander Granat

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The current research revolves around individuals’ motivations for engaging in regular exercise and how this motivation may be associated with self-esteem, social confidence, social anxiety, and social media behavior. Recent literature on exercise and its relation to anxiety and social media usage has almost exclusively addressed a one-way direction: how social media, especially problematic social media use, and the anxiety derived thereof influence individuals to increase exercise frequency. The present research seeks to understand the potential relationship within the opposite direction, looking to discover confluence between one’s drive to exercise (i.e., for functional reasons or social desirability and aesthetics), derived …

How Do Religious Beliefs, Practices, And Experiences Impact Mental Health?, Samantha Coyne, Margo Gregor

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The following literature review discusses the influence religious practices, beliefs, and experiences impact mental health. The discussion will revolve around three main religions: Catholocism, Judaism, and other denominations of Christianity. Negative and positive influences of religion on mental health were found and discussed.

Exploring The Effects Of Road Salt On Earthworm Species, Alea Mry Koston

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examines the effects of two road salts, sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), on the health of two earthworm species: Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris. Over a 4-week period, approximately 168 earthworms were exposed to varying concentrations of either NaCl, CMA, or mixed ratios of both, with a control group included for comparison. The experiment involved monitoring the changes in earthworm weight and measuring their contraction rates to determine physiological responses. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in weight or activity between NaCl and CMA treatments for either species. However, higher concentrations of NaCl resulted in …

'God Loves The World' Documentary, Ilona Kitchen

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The internet is a powerful place. People feel that they can share how they feel with no consequences. Hedviga Tkáčová (2021) argues that negative media portrayals of Christianity contribute to prejudice against Christian university students in Slovakia, which undermines social cohesion and highlights the need for greater support of religious diversity. From memes to viral videos, these digital interactions can feel like a personal attack, exposing how online spaces can betray the trust and faith of the Roman Catholic Church. As a Roman Catholic, I frequently encounter such issues when engaging with content in the media. In public settings, it …

Daf-12’S Effects On Lifespan In C. Elegans, Randhir S. Multani

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

We tested the hypothesis that daf-12 has the ability to upregulate mir-84 and mir-241 in C. elegans. Rifampicin helps C. elegans live longer by reducing glycation and activating daf-16. It is not clear if daf-12 is needed for this to happen. Daf-16 turns on genes that promote a longer lifespan. Daf-12 increases mir-84 and mir-241 and helps daf-16 become active so it can turn on genes that relate to lifespan. C. elegans were divided into four groups: wild-type, wild-type with RIF, daf-12 RNAi, and daf-12 RNAi with RIF. Worms were incubated at 20°C. An LDH assay and protein assay …

The Signal Of Airplane Combustion In Soil At A Small Airport In Ohio, Rachel Engels

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Leaded gas has been banned for automobile use in the interest of public health since 1996. However, leaded gas is still used for small piston aircraft so the engine can run safely. To investigate potential environmental impacts of leaded gas, 90 soil samples were taken from around a small airport in Ohio. Soil elemental composition was measured by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), soil organic content determined by Loss-on-Ignition (LOI), and soil ferrimagnetic content measured by magnetic susceptibility. There is an unmistakable airplane fuel combustion signal in the soil at the ends of the runway, where aircraft wait to take off on …

Medication In Early Adulthood And Long-Term Outcomes In Individuals With Adhd, Emma Deep

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The main question asked about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is: What are the long-term consequences for adults who stay on ADHD medication after childhood? Answering that question includes looking into the medical facts surrounding an ADHD diagnosis, examining the adults and children with ADHD, the subtypes of ADHD, diagnosing ADHD, including the symptoms, and types of medications, along with the side effects. ADHD is one of the most common disorders in children and adults. Understanding ADHD, its diagnosis, and treatment options is crucial for individuals and caregivers navigating this condition. This paper examines the long-term effects of ADHD medication from …

Examining The Gender Disparity In College Enrollment: Implications For Female Representation In Managerial Positions, Natalia Y. Felicelli

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The current gender disparity in college enrollment, with women constituting nearly 60% of enrollees and men approximately 40%, marks the highest recorded differential in educational participation. While society has made progress in challenging traditional gender roles, the glass ceiling may persist. This study explores the relationship between gender imbalance in college enrollment and prospects for increased female representation in managerial positions. By investigating this phenomenon, the study aims to identify factors contributing to women’s underrepresentation in leadership. Understanding this relationship could provide insights for policymakers, educators, and organizations. Increased female leadership presence may also inspire more women to pursue such …

Expression And Purification Of Cytochrome P450 46a1 For Resonance Raman Spectroscopy, Lauren Jirles

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Researchers are targeting cytochrome P450 46A1 (CYP46A1), an enzyme critical for brain cholesterol homeostasis, as a potential therapeutic approach for neurological diseases. CYP46A1 plays a key role in cholesterol turnover in the brain by catalyzing the conversion of cholesterol to 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24HC) and is linked to Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology. Given its critical role in brain health, CYP46A1 represents a promising target for therapeutic intervention in neurological disorders. The goal of this project was to express the CYP46A1 protein in GC5 E. coli cells and purify the protein using chromatographic techniques including affinity and ion exchange chromatography. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was …

The Impact The Supreme Court's Decision Has On Public Opinion, Mckenzie Dunigan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

By creating a survey, the analyzation of Akron college students public opinion shifts in regard to the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization occurred. The data gathered allowed for the support of different trends that were able to assist in providing information towards the research question.

Effects Of Energy Drinks On Crayfish Physiology, Melyna Sweeney

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Energy drinks have become the drink of choice among many college students due to the rush of energy it provides via the megadose of caffeine (Vercammen et al. 2019). Because of their newfound popularity, there is much research to be done about the effects on human physiology. Energy drinks are known to increase endurance in muscles of rat subjects (Imagawa et al. 2009) and stimulate enhanced “alertness” (Smit & Rogers, 2002). The purpose of this research was to uncover the potential effects that energy drinks have on metabolic rate and/or stress responses in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), with the …

Elongate Locomotors Show Consistent Torque Patterns Across Substrates, Spencer Bradford, Henry Astley

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The four main movements found in snakes are understood mainly due to external study; however, muscular forces and resulting torques are poorly known. The main research objective is to study the torque production on different substrates using a snakebot. The study will give a rudimentary model for torque production on different substrates. It can then be compared against biological systems to understand snake movement at a muscular level. This study used a snakebot, allowing direct assessment of the current being run through each of its motors (proportional to torque). Data was then examined using a Principal Component Analysis test for …

Hands That Speak, Zoe M. Huxtable

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

For my Honors Project I created Hands That Speak, a visual installation of media in the College of Arts and Sciences on the 3rd floor. I designed this visual installation to introduce the students and staff at the University of Akron to Deaf culture, ASL (American Sign Language), and the significance that Gallaudet University has in both of those things. The installation brings together my own education in ASL and Deaf culture from the University of Akron, and my personal experience going to Gallaudet University, and puts it into a multimedia visual display that's easy for the community at the …

Astrocyte Specific Enhancers In The Cortex And Striatum Of Mice, Mikaela Kottelich

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Among glial cells, astrocytes have a prevalent influence on supporting neuronal function and overall brain health. Specifically targeting this cell type for disease treatment is an existing issue. Other cell types tend to express the desired treatment, which is not always wanted and can lead to unintended, negative consequences. Astrocytes contribute largely to maintaining the blood brain barrier, which is disrupted in Parkinson’s disease. Certain genes are thought to be the reason for this disruption, so if they can be specifically targeted in astrocytes with a specific enhancer, the disruption of the disease could be reversed. In our experiment, we …

The Impact Of Seasonal Variation On Body Morphology In Temnothorax Curvispinosus, Chelsea Kalb

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examines how seasonal variations affect the morphology of Temnothorax curvispinosus (acorn ants) by comparing workers hatched in the spring and in the fall. Colonies will be collected from the Bath Nature Preserve in May and September to represent the different seasonal groups. Morphological traits, such as the head, mesosoma, gaster, antennae, and leg, will be measured using a microscope and an image analysis software. The morphological measurements from each group will then be compared using ANOVA. By exploring how environmental variation influences developmental outcomes in acorn ants, this research contributes to our understanding of phenotypic plasticity and insect …

Impact Of Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) On Daphnia Magna Heart Rate, Ashley Cosgrave

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Marijuana (Cannabis) is currently federally illegal within the United States and classified as a Schedule I drug. This leaves a large research gap on the impacts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use. Daphnia magna are frequently used as a model organism for the human heart and toxicology screenings due to their myogenic heart, similarities in physiological pathways, and sensitivity to toxins. As such, in order to bridge the research gap and uncover potential use of Daphnia magna as a model organism for humans in regard to impact on heart rate, we hypothesized that if Daphnia magna possess CB1 receptors or an equivalent …

Beyond Punitive Policy: Deadlines As Ethics-Based Professional Identity Development Opportunities, Eric Shannon

Faculty Publications

(Excerpt)

Is the practice of imposing fixed deadlines for legal writing assignments a relic of the past?

This is the type of question I consider while trying to fall asleep at a reasonable hour on a Tuesday. I can’t help it: I spent thousands of hours working in law student affairs before transitioning to full-time faculty. I’ve seen the myriad struggles that students face while in law school—too many to count. I would regularly force myself to consider: Am I enforcing a policy that prioritizes student well-being and professional development? Or am I perpetuating a relic?

202501-05, 01/16/2025, I-65 N, Mm 165.7, Tippecanoe Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202501-09, 01/23/2025, I-70 W, Mm 0.1, Vigo Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202502-07, 02/28/2025, I-94 E, Mm 7.8, Lake Co., Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.

202501-07, 01/20/2025, I-465 Il, Mm 49.9, Marion Co, Myles W. Overall, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Justin Mukai, Jairaj Desai, Deborah Horton, Darcy M. Bullock

After-Action Reports for Traffic Incident Management (TIM)

No abstract provided.