Educational Methods Commons^™

Open-Ended Capstone Project: Designing And Manufacturing Of A Low-Cost Carbon Fiber Reinforced Composite Suborbital Rocket Payload Housing Using A 3d Printed Core, Garam Kim, Sergey Dubikovsky, Peng Hao Wang, Ronald Sterkenburg

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Composite materials are utilized in many industries today due to its high performance and lightweight. However, the part manufacturing process of traditional composites is complicated and often involves high cost. The molds used for composite manufacturing are usually one of the contributors to the high part manufacturing cost. The authors demonstrated in this paper a manufacturing process for a carbon fiber reinforced composite rocket payload housing using an additively manufactured polylactic acid (PLA) payload housing core. The paper also demonstrates the designing and manufacturing of a functional product, which was used in a real-life application, achieved by college undergraduate students. …

Conference Program 2020, Sotl Commons Conference

SoTL Commons Conference

Conference Program

A Proposed Taxonomy For General Aviation Pilot Weather Education And Training, John M. Lanicci, Thomas A. Guinn, Jayde M. King, Beth Blickensderfer, Robert Thomas, Yolanda Ortiz

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

As General Aviation (GA) safety continues to remain a focus of the aviation community, GA pilot weather education and training continues to be an active area of interest within the research community. This study introduces a taxonomy for organizing GA pilot weather education and training materials that was originally conceived as part of the FAA’s Weather Technology In the Cockpit research program. The taxonomy is built upon three main knowledge categories, or tiers:1) Weather Phenomena (which includes hazards); 2) Weather Hazard Products; and 3) Weather Hazard Product Sources and their Application. The concept behind the categorization is to link knowledge …

The Morning Meeting: Fostering A Participatory Democracy Begins With Youth In Public Education, Rebecca C. Tilhou

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

There is a faltering sense of democracy in America's current political climate due to polarized opinions about leadership's decisions and antagonistic political parties. John Dewey (1916) proposed that education is the place to foster democracy, as schools can provide a platform to actively engage students in authentic democratic experiences that will empower them to act democratically beyond the walls of the school. The democratic schools that emerged during the Free School Movement of the 1960s and 1970s embody Dewey's philosophy, specifically with the shared governance occurring in their School Meetings. Unfortunately, American public education's present preoccupation with standardization, proficiency scores, …

Characteristics Of Critical Friendship That Transform Professional Identity, Signe E. Kastberg, Melva R. Grant

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

We met at CASTLE 2018, two trained mathematics teacher educators (MTEs), interested in mathematics, and teaching elementary mathematics methods to preservice teachers (PTs). Melva’s self-study research, focused on improving her online methods course, was approaching its second year and her second critical friend had lost interest in continuing. Melva invited Signe to be her critical friend (Schuck & Russell, 2005) and Signe agreed. Explicit expectations of our critical friendship included weekly meetings. Our critical friendship seemed to follow an expected trajectory for, “supporting/coaching the transformation of another’s teaching” (Stolle, et al., 2019, p. 20). However, there were implicit ways our …

Improving Science Teaching Through The Use Of Video Reflection And A Pck-Based Teaching Framework, Dallas Bruce

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Effective teaching and teachers are vital for improved outcomes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and scientific literacy. Supporting the goals of contemporary science education calls for constructivist learning approaches, with an emphasis on inquiry-based, student-centred learning, which demands that teachers develop a wider repertoire and more innovative pedagogical skills. Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) research was used to prepare a conceptual framework of effective teaching skills and knowledge areas which was used in a teacher professional development (PD) initiative. This qualitative study employed a case study methodology with a small group of experienced, secondary Science teachers. An ethnographic, …

Primary School Teachers’ Experience Of Mathematics Education: A Phenomenological Study, Sarah Jane Tamburri

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Researchers and policymakers agree that all children can learn mathematics, and research has shown that teaching practices have a significant impact on student learning and achievement. Therefore, it is important that teachers are supported in their development as professionals and mathematics educators. This research gives a voice to a small number of primary school mathematics teachers, providing insight into their experience of mathematics education, from their perspective. In-depth interviews form the basis of data collection and these have been analysed through a transcendental phenomenological approach. The insights gained into teachers’ experiences and perspectives provide a deeper understanding of their role …

Holistic Student Development In Higher Education: Perspectives And Practices Of Holistic Student Development At A Public California University, Francisca Ann Crutchfield

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Within traditional American public colleges and universities, there is an emphasis on academic student success within the structures and values of educational programs, and the lack of a holistic approach to higher education may be negatively impacting college student development and well-being. By balancing academic knowledge with other areas of knowledge, including a heightened sense of community and mental and emotional well-being, higher education can cultivate students who apply their skills with reduced stress, a sense of belonging, and freedom of expression. This qualitative phenomenological study seeks to identify characteristics, educational priorities, and programming approaches of university student service programs …

The Voice Of The Gods Is Crippling: Law School For Helicoptered Millennials, Katerina P. Lewinbuk, Taci Villarreal, Elena Bolonina

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

As millennials dominate law school classrooms, many professors are recognizing the importance of altering the traditional methods of teaching law. Millennials act, think, and learn differently. Numerous factors are linked to why this new generation of law students is distinctively different than previous generations. This article examines these factors and how they influence millennials’ learning styles. Alternative methods of teaching millennial law students are also discussed and proposed, along with a specific example of a tailored professional responsibility textbook and course to the modern law student.

Strengthening The Capacity To Serve Undocumented Students In A Rural California State University, Carlos Alvarado Sanchez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Undocumented students face many obstacles while seeking a higher education degree. As undocumented students apply and are accepted to colleges and universities, they should have the means and resources to complete their higher education degree like all students. An array of strategies can be considered and implemented to have educators and school administrators in higher education be better equipped to serve all students, but specifically undocumented students.

Educators and administrators could continue their acquisition of knowledge base and comfortability about the different implications that surround undocumented students. Therefore, this thesis seeks to examine the efficacy of self-reports on a pre- …

Euler's Square Root Laws For Negative Numbers, Dave Ruch

Complex Variables

No abstract provided.

Gauss And Cauchy On Complex Integration, Dave Ruch

Complex Variables

No abstract provided.

Riemann's Development Of The Cauchy-Riemann Equations, Dave Ruch

Complex Variables

No abstract provided.

Me, Myself, And I: The Impact Of Metacognitive Strategies On Student Locus Of Control And Critical Thinking Skills, Danielle Kuchler

All Master's Theses

We live in an era when a college degree is essentially required for entry into good-paying careers, and yet achievement of a college degree is unacceptably low. Only 60% of students who enroll go on to graduate from 4-year colleges and universities in 6 years or fewer (National Center for Higher Education 2018). Why is this happening? What are the long-term intellectual and economic implications of ill-prepared students? We must ask ourselves if students are really prepared with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be successful in college and whether those attributes are developed while in college. Two of the …

The Stained Glass Of Knowledge: On Understanding Novice Mental Models Of Computing, Briana Christina Bettin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Learning to program can be a novel experience. The rigidity of programming can be at odds with beginning programmer's existing perceptions, and the concepts can feel entirely unfamiliar. These observations motivated this research, which explores two major questions: What factors influence how novices learn programming? and How can analogy by more appropriately leveraged in programming education?

This dissertation investigates the factors influencing novice programming through multiple methods. The CS1 classroom is observed as a "whole system", with consideration to the factors present in it that can influence the learning process. Learning's cognitive processes are elaborated to ground exploration into specifically …

An Investigation Of Problem-Based Learning On The Advanced Placement Exam Scores And Interest Of Ap Biology Students, Tia Hohler

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study reports the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) on the interest and Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam scores of high school students. The experimental group was exposed to a constructivist PBL environment using an overarching unit problem, inquiry style lab investigations and white board discussions while the comparison group received direct instruction in the same curriculum. AP Biology exam scores were collected for two years with direct instruction and two years with PBL instruction. An interest survey was given to a subset of the experimental group and included students enrolled in the course during the 2019-2020 school year. Analysis …

Song Teaching And Singing Accuracy Of Third Grade Elementary Music Students: An Investigation Using Multilevel Modeling, Kateri Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The purpose of this study was to investigate song teaching approaches and their effect on the singing accuracy of third grade elementary students using an original song with no repeated phrases. Students (N = 318) and teachers (N = 22) were from a large school district in the Western United States with a diverse demographic population.

Three song teaching approaches were investigated: phrase-by-phrase, holistic, and combination. An original composed song with the phrase structure that does not include a repeated phrase was tested. Intact third grade classes were randomly selected from each of the 22 schools and teachers …

Guiding Students To Success: A Systematic Review Of Research On Guided Notes As An Instructional Strategy From 2009-2019, Bryan Biggers, Tian Luo

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Guided notes were introduced decades ago, but there is still debate over their efficacy in improving student outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine peer-reviewed research on guided notes for adult learners in general populations since 2009, understanding the effects of guided notes on student learning, the knowledge and content areas supported by guided notes, and the impact of modality. Results of the 22 included studies indicate that students perceive guided notes in a positive light, and guided notes improve results in certain knowledge domains especially with complex content. However, modality does not influence the efficacy of guided …

The Differential Efects Of Hand-Raising And Digital Response Cards On Active Engagement Of High School Students With Mild To Moderate Disabilities During Literacy Activities, Meredith Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of the study was to investigate how both hand-raising and digital response cards effect student engagement, on-task behavior, and off-task behavior. Academic achievement was also assessed using a high-tech student responses system. An ABAB withdrawal design was used to evaluate the effects among high school students with mild to moderate disabilities during reading lessons. The results showed digital response cards increased active engagement for all participants, but digital response card conditions did not show increased levels of on-task behavior.

Examining The Practices And Quality Of Preschool Teachers’ Practices Managing The Challenging Behaviors Of Young Children, Cameron A. Tyrrell

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

All teachers have to manage a classroom environment and meet the needs of their students. In early childhood educational settings, challenging behaviors have been found to be a significant responsibility. The variables involved in effectively intervening in challenging behavior, and developing behavior support plans, are often determined by various factors. Previous research into challenging behaviors of young children have focused on the effectiveness of certain behavioral interventions, professional development opportunities, and curriculum such as the Pyramid Model. This proposed qualitative study centered the practices teachers reported using interceding in problem behavior, and inquired about the influences behind why teachers used …

A Comparison Of Multiple Baseline Family Of Designs, An Analysis Of A Multiple Probe Study, And Coaching For Practitioners, Katherine Jordan

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Overview of Alternative Thesis Project

During the Spring 2020 semester, students within the applied behavior analysis program were conducting applied thesis projects within typical contexts as part of their fulfillment of the requirements of a master’s degree program. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), public schools and related facilities closed with no plans to reopen within the time frame to allow for graduation for students in the last semester of their graduate program. Students were allowed to complete an alternative thesis assignment in the form of responding to writing prompts followed by an oral defense of the written products, …

Using Response Cards In Inclusive Classrooms, Kaitlin Ayers

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Inclusive classrooms consist of students with and without disabilities. It is often difficult for teachers to find ways to incorporate all students equally in classroom discussions. Often students with disabilities tend to participate less than their typically developing peers. For teachers to be effective in their classroom it is important for them to follow high leverage practices. One high-leverage practice strategy for teachers to incorporate in their classroom is the use of response cards (RCs). Response cards are evidence-based practices for increasing active engagement, academic achievement, on-task behavior, as well as decreasing problem behaviors. In order for students to have …

The River And The Ranger: The Crafting And Background Of An Interpretive Program, Amy J. Heusinkvelt

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The central part of this creative project was the development and presentation of an interpretive program delivered in conjunction with employment at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. To supplement this place-specific program, a second program was developed retaining similar themes to the first, but designed to be presented in Lincoln. A brief history of the National Park Service as well as the fundamentals of interpretation were researched and elaborated upon to provide both a base and background for presentation of the interpretive programs. The project includes both self-assessment of the programs and research, as well as remarks, suggestions, and …

Qualitative Research In Pharmacy Education: An Exploration Of Pharmacy Education Researchers' Perceptions And Experiences Conducting Qualitative Research, Antonio A. Bush, Mauriell Amechi, Adam Persky

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Objective. To investigate pharmacy education researchers’ experiences in conducting qualitative research and their perceptions of qualitative research in pharmacy education

Methods. A phenomenological approach was used to conduct one-time, in-depth interviews with 19 participants from 12 schools and colleges of pharmacy. Interview transcripts were coded and themes were identified using a modified form of the Sort and Sift, Think and Shift method of data analysis.

Results. Faculty members were the largest subgroup in the sample, followed by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows/scholars, and residents. Pharmacy education researchers had varying levels of training in conducting qualitative research and some had none at …

Growth Mindset And Agency In The Preschool Classroom, Isaac Rowan Coppock

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Mindsets, or how we as individuals characterize intelligence and our ability to attain it, are deeply connected to motivation. Those who employ a fixed mindset view intelligence as set and effort as fruitless. Conversely, those who utilize a growth mindset have healthy attitudes about challenges and view effort as a necessary part of learning. For educators working with children, finding ways to encourage growth over fixed mindsets is incredibly indicative of the future academic success individual children might experience. This study explores the foundations of mindset attainment through a teacher’s ability to affect individual preschool-aged (three to five years) children’s …

Drama Applied To Content-Based Instruction In Elementary Education, A. Rocio Muhs

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Growing public interest in bilingual education has prompted many school districts to offer dual language models. Unaddressed challenges inherent in dual language immersion programs can compromise the quality of implementation, thus affecting student achievement and ultimately program sustainability. This study investigates how the integration of dramatic arts into core subject instruction in Spanish improves student learning and motivation among first grade second-language learners. Based on the existing challenges confronting a Dual Language Immersion Program in Western Montana, this study asks: What is the relationship between students’ attitudes about learning in a second language and the teacher’s pedagogical practices? In this …

Teaching In A Flipped Classroom., Jillian Grose-Fifer

Publications and Research

In this chapter, I describe how I switched to using a flipped class model in an upper-level Sensation and Perception course, by reversing where different types of learning take place. In the flipped model, instead of introducing students to basic concepts in class, they answered guiding questions after watching videos or reading the textbook before attending class. They then spent class time working collaboratively in small groups on more challenging assignments, many of which had been homework assignments in prior (non-flipped) courses. In-class activities consisted of mini-experiments, and other student-centered hands-on learning experiences designed to foster higher-order critical thinking and …

Student Success In Psychology-English Learning Communities., Jillian Grose-Fifer, Kimberly A. Helmer

Publications and Research

Participation in a learning community has been widely recognized as a high impact educational practice. Here, we focus on a highly successful partnership between a psychology professor (JGF) and an English professor (KAH), who codesigned and cotaught a first-year cocurricular (Psychology/English Composition) learning community (LC) course for multiple semesters at a large public Minority/Hispanic Serving Institution in the Northeast. We describe how we created co-curricular links between our courses, which hinged in part on a collaborative podcast assignment based on psychology-themed books. We detail how we built a strong sense of community, designed scaffolded assignments targeting skills, such as information …

“It’S Hidden, After All:” A Modified Delphi Study Exploring Faculty And Students’ Perceptions Of A Graduate Professional Seminar In Communication, Krista Hoffmann-Longtin, Maria Brann, The Professional Seminar Delphi Working Group

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Graduate student socialization has been studied in multiple disciplines, including communication. As their career trajectories change, faculty must consider how to socialize students into the field and their subsequent careers. Using a modified Delphi survey, we examined the differences in faculty and students’ perceptions regarding the content of a graduate professional seminar in communication. Results indicate that students would prefer a focus on implicit norms and the hidden curriculum, while faculty would prefer to focus on disciplinary content. We offer recommendations for developing a course that addresses both needs and, thus, simultaneously attends to the changing job market.

Confronting Students’ Personal And Interpersonal Communication Anxieties And Needs Through Constitutive, Experiential Communication Pedagogy, Lawrence R. Frey, Emily Loker

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

Today’s college students are experiencing unprecedented high levels of anxiety, resulting in devastating effects. This essay challenges communication educators to respond directly to this significant issue by employing an experiential pedagogy that offers students constitutive opportunities to initiate, experiment with, and receive feedback about new communicative behaviors that will enable them to interact well and achieve positive outcomes in high anxiety-inducing interactions. The essay explicates how that constitutive, experiential pedagogy informs the course “Communication and Human Relations,” enabling students to acquire communication competencies to reduce their anxiety about and to manage effectively their personal and interpersonal communication difficulties.