Gifted Education Commons^™

El Deafo Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Horrible Harry In Room 2b Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Induced Mutagenesis In West Nile Virus Non-Structural Protein 3 With A Discussion Of The Mutation's Effects On Viral Properties, Caden Connealy

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family and introduced to the Western hemisphere in 1999, presents a unique and emerging threat to human health. Infection in humans is often mild but can occasionally result in severe neurological impairment and even death. West Nile Virus non-structural protein 3 (NS3) plays an important role in the process of viral genome amplification. More specifically, the C-terminal domain of the protein folds into a helicase enzyme, which is responsible for the “unwinding” of double-stranded RNA intermediates and RNA secondary structure on the WNV genome. This is a vitally important step in …

Unveiling The Stigma: Doctor Mental Health And Intervention Strategies, Joseph Heirigs

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Background

The mental health of physicians is a pressing issue that has received increasing attention in recent years. The alarmingly high suicide rates for physicians underscores the critical need to address the mental health challenges that doctors face. Physicians are exposed to stressors that are unique to their profession, including high-stakes decision making, long work hours, traumatic patient situations, and the emotional toll of patient care. These challenges contribute to high rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and other mental health issues. However, despite these factors, physicians are often reluctant to seek mental health treatment due to fears of professional repercussions, …

Domain Communication In Bifunctional Proline Utilization A From Sinorhizobium Meliloti, Emma Bitterman

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The reduction potential of flavin bound to Sinorhizobium meliloti proline utilization A (SmPutA) is beneficial in providing vital information on enzyme activity and the active site environment. Flavin is crucial in biological metabolism such as aerobic respiration and other important processes like oxygen activation that are catalyzed by flavin-dependent enzymes. (4). In this study, we seek to determine whether the redox potential of SmPutA-bound flavin can be used to characterize potential long-distance communication and analyze the possibilities of inactivation reversibility. SmPutA is a large bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the overall oxidation of proline to glutamate via two catalytic domains (1). …

Spoken Word Percussion And Its Intersection With Communication, Gwen Leuschen

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Music is a form of communication, whether expressing emotion, telling a story, or delivering information. Communication is widely used in music. This communication takes place by conveying ideas through the sound produced by performers. This form of musical communication cues the audience into the messages, information, and emotions the composers intended. However, when text or spoken word is implemented into music, how does this affect the communication, and how can this be analyzed? This paper explores the history of music and spoken word, explains applicable communication theories, and finally applies these theories to music with spoken word, emphasizing percussion.

Teacher Retention And The Future Of Learning: Alarming Concerns About Preparing The Next Generation Of Citizens, Dejuanna M. Parker, Barbara D. Holmes

Journal of Research Initiatives

Research is robust in detailing the various reasons teachers leave the profession. There is scant literature on why teachers stay and what should be done to improve teacher retention. Teacher retention is a primary concern nationally and internationally. The inability to retain teachers has resulted in a teacher shortage and significantly affects student learning. Sorenson and Ladd (2020) This study yielded three emergent themes related to integral factors of teacher retention: changing attitudes on administrative support, workplace collegiality, and persistence of passion and purpose. Recommendations offered include encouraging administrators to leverage the passion and commitment of the educators to create …

Growing Partnerships Into Non-Instructional Spaces For Technology Integration, Innovation, And Organizational Development, Tracy Driehaus, Scott Matz

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Multi-Tiered School University Partnerships: How Schools And Universities Can Work Together To Make Collective Impact, Tracy Driehaus

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Leadership For Teacher Education In Challenging Times: A Collaborative Approach, Rebecca West Burns, Thomas Conway, Tracy Driehaus, Tracy Keyes

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Innovating Art Education: An Art Education School University Partnership, Tracy Driehaus

Education Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Launching Cures In Non-Traditional Settings: How One Honors Program Propels Primary Research For The Institution, Kathryn M. Macdonald

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay considers how course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) can drive original research. Honors students in career-oriented majors (accounting, hospitality management, health services administration, criminal justice) develop primary research studies that are proposed for institutional review and then conducted within a specific population across the university. The author describes the CURE model within an honors curriculum, observing that it actively engages students in the full research cycle from conceptualization to dissemination and fosters critical thinking, methodological rigor, and ethical awareness. The author recommends its use in either group or individual settings to honors programs seeking to position students as active …

Why The Museum Matters To Honors, Mimi Killinger

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Using classroom displacement and pandemic pivoting during COVID as a touchstone, author presents ways in which museums complement and reinforce pedagogical goals in honors. Community and campus museums offer immediate and innovative teaching opportunities that require minimal technology, present diverse viewpoints and cultural perspectives, and foster visual and cultural literacies. Demonstrating how teaching within a museum aligns with the educational mission of her home institution, author suggests that these spaces can be creative, collaborative, and engaging learning locations for honors colleges and programs throughout the country. Detailed descriptions of curated collections are provided.

Honors Capstones And Self-Authorship: A Case Study, Chelsea Mckeirnan

Honors in Practice Online Archive

While self-authorship theory posits that students who actively define and articulate their values and goals are better positioned for post-collegiate success, little has been done to examine curricular opportunities for self-authorship in the context of honors education. This case study explores the potential for self-authorship development within an honors capstone preparation course at a southwestern regional university. Author observes that such a course provides students with opportunities for self-authorship development and self-efficacy by offering provocative moments and granting autonomy for decision-making. Results suggest that the design and structure of honors capstones can support the growth and development of honors students …

Sharing The Stage With The Future: Humans And Robots Together At Last, Donna L. Clevinger

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay presents a co-curricular collaboration bringing ancient comedy to a modern audience. Students and faculty at a large, public R1 university combine art and engineering to create a STEAM-based approach to theatrical production. The author describes how integrating classical text, creative expression, and transformational technologies demonstrates that collaboration between disciplines can produce gains for each, fostering advancements and human understanding that would be unattainable independently. Script writing, casting, stage production, and outcomes are presented.

Envisioning Honors As Complex Problem Solving, Pat Akos, Nathan Hicks

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Honors education can maximize student well-being and career-life readiness by integrating a range of wicked problems and design thinking. This approach fosters interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and the development of innovative problem solvers. The authors introduce student choice and design thinking throughout the first three courses of an honors interdisciplinary minor at a large, public R1 university and consider its pedagogical implications.

Campus Legends And Mysteries: Building Institutional Identity Through Campus Lore, Viktoria Basham

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay presents an honors course designed to help students develop a holistic understanding of institutional history and identity while engaging with university culture. Author describes how students conduct research on the history, traditions, and local lore of both their home institution and broader geographic region by using a variety of campus resources and archival collections. Strong and personal bonds with the university are the touchstone for creating projects (n = 17) that contribute to campus lore, thereby extending student narratives to add to, enrich, and preserve an evolving institutional identity. Author suggests that course offerings such as this can …

Applications Of Systems Thinking In Honors Education: The Justice Challenge, Rebecca C. Bott, Jonathan D. Kotinek, Timothy J. Nichols, Heidi Appel, Andrea Radasanu, Joy L. Hart

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Honors education has long been praised for its potential as a test bed for curricular innovation. A wide variety of high-impact practices have been employed to prepare honors students to think critically and tackle complex problems. Examination of the use of systems thinking within pedagogical practices in honors education is, however, nearly nonexistent in the literature. The authors present a brief introduction to systems thinking; review its use within honors curricula; and examine how a nationwide collaborative of honors educators equips students with systems thinking tools to learn about and engage with complex interdisciplinary problems. The authors characterize systems thinking …

Honors Thesis Proposal Course Components, Lynn Stallings, Anete Vásquez

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Completion of an undergraduate thesis can be a transformational experience for honors students because they learn that they can contribute original intellectual thought to the record of scholarly knowledge. This essay considers how the misconceptions and challenges of an honors thesis can discourage students from undertaking the task. Authors describe the design, delivery, sequencing, resources, and administration of a junior-level thesis proposal course aimed at abating student anxiety over and supporting faculty engagement of thesis work. The Hopscotch Model, a tool to help novice researchers thoroughly design qualitative research studies while learning the philosophical underpinnings of a particular form of …

Development Of An Honors Leadership Academy Experience, Samantha Gregus, Chelsea Redger-Marquardt, Bobby Berry, Doug Stucky, Cindi Mason, Kimberly Engber

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay presents a leadership academy in honors, an interdisciplinary offering co-taught by a team of five faculty combining in-course curriculum with travel-based experiential learning. Authors describe the academy’s inception, development, and curricular objectives and outcomes, as well as the experiences of four student cohorts (2021–2024). Focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to community-based problem solving, students (n ≈ 8–14) learn the Social Change Model of Leadership Development framework; engage in self-reflective exercises relating to leadership values and attitudes; partner with a local nonprofit organization; use design thinking methodology to solve a specific organizational challenge; and collaboratively work in teams to …

Toward A Welcoming Classroom: Assessment Of Student Perceptions Of Writing Education In Introductory Honors College Courses, Hilary K. Snow

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This study examines student perceptions of an introductory-level writing program in honors at a large, public R1 university. Author considers the efficacy of pedagogical interventions aimed at identifying gaps in the experience of writing for students from BIPOC and first-generation backgrounds and at developing more inclusive teaching practices. Collective revisions to the program’s writing philosophy, objectives, and rubrics helped instructors gain clarity and consistency across sections. A two-part survey was conducted at the beginning and end of the semester, and metrics were calculated for all respondents (N = 176) and targeted subgroups (n = 37; n = 30). …

Read Yourself In: Enhancing First-Year Student Belonging Through Place As Text Pedagogy, John R. Andrews

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This study considers how Place as Text (PAT) pedagogy can foster a sense of belonging, efficacy, and persistence among first-year honors students. Author engages students in mapping, observing, listening, and reflecting exercises to observe how PAT helps them connect critically with their campus environment. Analyses of student reflections (qualitative) and historical enrollment data (quantitative) suggest that Place as Text deepens students’ engagement with the university, strengthens a sense of belonging, and enhances academic and social integration. Pointing to the strong correlation between belonging and persistence, author argues that PAT pedagogy should be expanded throughout honors colleges and curricula to support …

Building Place-Based Experiential Learning Into The Honors Curriculum At Ohio University, Geoffrey L. Buckley, Nicole Finnicum, Michelle O'Malley, Jennifer Bowie, Yolonda Youngs

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Observing the demand for interdisciplinary experiential learning opportunities post-COVID, authors present a place-based curriculum in honors. Workshop-style special topics classes provide students with an immersive and flexible learning environment, energize faculty, and engage alumni and community partners. Coursework, fieldwork, internships, and study abroad opportunities all contribute to the development of an informed and engaged citizenry. Authors address challenges in funding, access, and equity, and they suggest ways these challenges might be met.

Editor's Introduction, Emily Allen

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Editor's introduction to Honors in Practice, volume 21 (2025).

"As we head into an uncertain future, let us care for each other and remember that together we are strong."

2024 Presidential Address, Eddie Weller

Honors in Practice Online Archive

The NCHC President recounts his history with the organization and challenges members to act with the values of justice, mercy, and humility. Organizational compassion, mutuality, and collaborative service are acknowledged and encouraged.

Includes a revised version of the 2024 National Collegiate Honors Council presidential address delivered on November 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Honors In Practice, Volume 21, 2025, Emily Allen

Honors in Practice Online Archive

CONTENTS

Editorial Policy, Deadline, and Submission Guidelines

Editor’s Introduction, Emily Allen

2024 NCHC CONFERENCE REMARKS 2024

Presidential Address, Eddie Weller

2024 Founders Award Remarks Elizabeth Cole Beck, John Zubizarreta

RESEARCH ESSAYS

Read Yourself In: Enhancing First-Year Student Belonging through Place as Text Pedagogy, John Andrews

Campus Legends and Mysteries: Building Institutional Identity through Campus Lore, Viktoria Basham

Building Place-based Experiential Learning into the Honors Curriculum at Ohio University, Geoffrey L. Buckley, Nicole Finnicum, Michelle O’Malley, Jennifer Bowie, and Yolonda Youngs

Why the Museum Matters to Honors, Mimi Killinger How to Create a Self-Sustaining Meditation Garden, Heather Salazar, Lydia Barrett-Miller, and …

2024 Founders Award Remarks, Elizabeth Cole Beck

Honors in Practice Online Archive

NCHC Founders Award recipient describes a three-decade career in honors education, highlights the immeasurable potential of honors programs for shaping student lives, and argues for the importance of conference attendance to honors educators.

Incudes

a revised version of remarks delivered at the 2024 National Collegiate Honors Council awards ceremony on November 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

2024 Founders Award Remarks, John Zubizarreta

Honors in Practice Online Archive

The NCHC Founders Award recipient emphasizes the transformative power of honors education and the importance of community.

Includes a revised version of remarks delivered at the 2024 National Collegiate Honors Council awards ceremony on November 1, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.

How To Create A Self-Sustaining Meditation Garden, Heather Salazar, Lydia Barrett-Miller, Kaitlyn Parisan

Honors in Practice Online Archive

This essay presents the creation and maintenance of a campus meditation garden as an outgrowth of four successive philosophy classes in honors. The authors describe the garden’s inception, execution, curricular advantages, and administration, with specific examples of the impact on student health and well-being. The authors observe the ways in which honors students attained skills in transformational leadership by collaborating to develop projects and lead events, suggesting that a meditation garden may be appropriate for any learning environment emphasizing cooperation, creativity, mindfulness, and well-being.

Honoring The Wellness Journey: An Evidence-Based Retreat To Build Stress Resilience In Honors Students, Sydney Tutuska, Alexandra Caldwell, Jennifer Willford

Honors in Practice Online Archive

Honors students are goal-oriented, motivated, and engaged achievers. As such, they often experience heavy course loads, manage multiple responsibilities, have limited free time, and sacrifice their health (relationships, sleep, nutrition) in pursuit of their goals. This essay presents an evidence-based wellness retreat designed for honors students at a medium-sized university. The authors describe the retreat’s inception, development, curricular advantages, and administration, with specific examples of targeted evidence-based programming. Eight workshops, designed to build resilience and coping skills, address mental agility and mindset, emotion regulation, social connection, and wellness habits. The authors observe student efficacy in the development of skills and …