Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons^™

Evidence-Based Programs For System-Involved Youths, Karli Baalmann, April Terry

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Far too many juveniles are incarcerated in juvenile correctional facilities, and in some cases, waived into the adult criminal legal system. Life course theory helps explain this pathway as many of these youth grow up in poverty-stricken environments, with restricted access and poor quality of schooling, during which they may experience abuse and neglect, leading them into the school-to-prison pipeline. Likewise, youth experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—forms of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction—endure the additional abuse-to-prison pipeline. Once incarcerated, these youth experience reentry issues when attempting to successfully transition back into their homes and communities. However, this issue starts before …

Using Reflective Practice To Change Students’ Perceptions Of Technology And Engineering Education, Josie Gage

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Objective: Evaluate the effect reflective practice has on Technology and Engineering (TEE) students

Design: Non-experimental, mixed methods, comparative

Setting: TEE / CTE classroom at secondary level

Participation: 9-12 grade TEE students for one school year

Results: Pending results and data collection

Hira Gene Mutation In Arabidopsis Via Crispr, Kelly Chen, Claire Shippy, Tara Phelps-Durr

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The purpose of this study is to mutate the Histone Repressor A (HIRA) gene in a mustard plant (Arabidopsis) using CRISPR technology. HIRA is a chromatin-remodeling protein that is required for proper development in both plants and animals. Creating new changes (mutations) in HIRA will help us better understand the mechanism of how HIRA regulates transcription, which is important for understanding developmental disorders in animals, as well as how improper development leads to a reduction in crop yields in plants

Investigating The Molecular Function Of Mutated Arabidopsis As2 Gene, Tara Phelps-Durr, Cadee A. Haugsness

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study aims to more deeply understand the role of the ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 2 (AS2) gene in Arabidopsis. During leaf development, the AS2 protein keeps the KNOX genes turned off so that leaves can develop. We use CRISPR technology to create mutations in specific regions of AS2. These mutations are predicted to change the protein structure of AS2, which may result in a mutated leaf. The analysis of the mutation allows us to better understand how AS2 keeps the KNOX genes off.

A Systematic Review: Mirror Neurons & Schizophrenia, Yashesvi Sharma, Surajit Dey

Annual Research Symposium

This research project establishes a link between Mirror Neuron System (MNS) activity and this information's implications in treating and understanding schizophrenia, specifically, schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms.

Open Educational Resources In Kentucky, Stephen G. Krueger, Todd Seguin, Colleen Deel, Aj Boston, Lidiya Grote, Bailey Lake, Katrina Salley, Stacy Scott, Kelly Smith, Maria Taylor, Kathleen Richardson

EKU Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Open educational resources (OER) play an increasingly important role in the education landscape, with increased awareness and use year over year (Coffey). Often, academic libraries play a supporting role for instructors as they locate, adopt, and create OER for their courses. In this article, we will provide an introduction to OER, outline some current trends in open education, and describe a few of the OER initiatives currently underway in Kentucky’s college and university libraries.

Course Discourse: Reimagining Course Evaluations And Feedback, Andrea Walker, Katja Gehr, Gracie Allen, Sara-Lou Adams, Brooke Poirier, Greyson Gainey, Haven Ladd, Katerina Tkachenko, Braxton Lazarus, Bella Marquez, Nora Jones, Chase Lowery, Paul Hanson

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Through the Honors Scholars’ Collaborative, our class, under the guidance of Dr. Heather Finch, has attempted to solve the problem of biased and potentially unhelpful course evaluations. We identified this problem through personal experience with feeling unmotivated to complete school-issued course evaluations and mistrust in other review sources. We set out to educate Belmont students on the importance of course evaluations, work towards better resources for professors regarding feedback, and create a website to better suit students’ needs to prepare for registration. To complete our goals, we executed two WELL Core events, built connections in the Teaching Center, and designed …

Experiential Learning Enhanced In Agricultural Classrooms Using 360-Degree Video Technology, Morgan L. Barba

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Experiential or “hands-on” learning allows students to self-correct educational missteps and have live examples of core concepts registered in the brain as holistic experiences, which enhances their educational experience overall (Roland, M.A 2017). However, due to financial constraints and logistical barriers, it becomes more difficult for educators to give their students these field-based experiences. Using 360 video technology, educators have the opportunity to address these limitations and provide students with field experience anywhere (Clay, M. A. 2022). This presentation will highlight the opportunities 360 video technology can offer to animal and plant science education and the opportunities it can offer …

A Model For Embedding Nature-Based Learning Across Disciplines: A Pilot Study At An Urban Community College, Nicole Kras

Publications and Research

Nature-based instruction offers students the benefits of experiential learning while spending time in nature. Research supports nature-based learning (NBL) with younger students (Pre-K–12), yet there is a dearth of research focused on students in post-secondary education. To advance research in higher education, an NBL project was launched with 16 faculty members (two cohorts) from different disciplines at a commuter community college in New York City to pilot the implementation of NBL into the curriculum. This paper offers a model to guide the implementation of NBL in a variety of disciplines. It is hoped that this model may be used by …

Subsurface Mapping Of Intra-Arbuckle Shale In North-West Kansas Using Well Log Data, Cole M. Denny

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The aim of this research was to enhance knowledge of Intra-Arbuckle Shale (IAS) distribution and structure through new maps, cross sections, and well log correlations. Understanding the shale(s) ultimately advances the discernment of complex Arbuckle reservoirs that are critical to the Kansas petroleum industry. IAS has been intercepted by oil wells throughout Kansas, but this study focuses on their presence in portions of Ellis, Rooks, Graham, and Trego counties. To study the distribution and structure of IAS, data from micro-resistivity and gamma ray well logs were collected from more than three hundred Arbuckle oil and gas wells. On each well …

Learner Assembly Spring Report 2024, Barry J. Ryan, Fionnuala Darby, Shaun Ferns

Group Reports

This paper outlines the strategic vision of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) to position learners as central partners in their university experience. Through its Strategic Intent, TU Dublin is dedicated to creating transformational educational opportunities that inspire, support, and develop learners to achieve their full potential. This vision is realised through the University Education Model that integrates research-informed and practice-based learning to promote academic excellence. A key initiative in this strategy is the establishment of a Learner Assembly, a gathering of students representing the university’s diversity to discuss important topics. Unlike a student representative body, the Learner Assembly serves as …

Booktok's Potentials And Possibilities In Composition Studies: An Interactive Digital Collection, Hanna Varilek

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The following thesis, “BookTok’s Potentials and Possibilities in Composition Studies: An Interactive Digital Collection,” explores the phenomenon of BookTok, a vibrant out-of-school literacy program on the social media platform TikTok centered around books, reading, and literary discussions. As digital platforms continue to shape contemporary cultural landscapes, BookTok emerges as a unique space where users engage with literature and participate in discussions that influence their reading habits and preferences. This thesis explores the possibilities of BookTok in reimagining the current landscape of first-year writing and composition classrooms by introducing an interactive digital collection of BookTok content and educational resources titled, The …

A Word From The Writing Team (April 2024), Pam Walter, Mfa, Liz Declan, Ma, Mfa

A Word From the Writing Team (Newsletter)

This issue includes:

• Join Us for Our Virtual Writing Retreat on April 5th
• Attend a Packback Workshop
• Check Out the Spring 2024 Research Support Newsletter
• Learn about the Ethics of AI at Jefferson's Research Compliance Symposium
• Attend a Reception for the Drs. Theresa and Charles Yeo Writing Prize Winners on April 25th
• Publication Spotlight
• Jefferson's AI Library Guide is Available on the Library Website
• The OPWPC Canvas Page Offers Helpful Tools
• Scott Memorial Library Archive Renovations are Almost Done!
• Wiley Open Access Fees Waived for Jefferson Authors

The Impact Of Student Behavior And Motivation On Intercultural Competence, Marki Alexander

Dissertations

Intercultural competence has become an important trait for university graduates to possess, but an investigation into the influence of multiple factors on the achievement of intercultural competence has not been undertaken. This research examines the influence of academic and social behaviors, motivation, and student demographics on the attainment of intercultural competence through a mixed methods study. Undergraduate students taking a course focused on human diversity responded to intercultural situational judgement tests and the Expanded Cultural Intelligence Scale. The qualitative findings show a need to refine previous understandings of the development of intercultural competence. Some support for the influence of motivation …

Towards Learning Excellence In Universities: A Critical Review Of Information And Communication Technology Policies In Education In Kenya, Caroline Kiarie, Nicola-Jane Jones

Graduate School of Media and Communications

The current reality is that technological advancement has shaped how learning is being conducted in education. Communication technology has been embraced in education by both educators and learners. However, the embracement has been slow, and this was experienced during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, when teaching and learning had to shift and relied heavily on communication technology, but in actuality educational institutions were not ready. The virus continues to linger on and has served as a wake-up call for the education sector. This therefore makes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) an essential component in education today, not only to be implemented …

Effects Of Fundamentals Of Culture On Teacher-Student Relationship In Middle School: A Quantitative Correlation Study, Laura L. Chang

Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore whether teacher-student relationships could be strengthened if we knew what impacted the cultural background of middle school teachers. Using a quantitative correlation research design and a multiple linear regression analysis, I examined the relationship between one dependent variable, Teacher-Student Relationship (TSR) and four predictor variables, Individualism versus Collectivism (IvC), Monochronic versus Polychronic values (MvP), Universalism versus Particularism (UvP), and Activism versus Fatalism (AvF). This research relied on prior studies centered around teacher-student relationship, the theory of cultural humility (Foronda, 2020), and values orientation theory (Kluckhohn & Strodtbeck, 1961). The analysis explored teacher-student …

Title V Best - Grant Year 4: Building Capacity For Excellence In Stem Education, Margarita Alarilla, Alexis Nunez, Adrian Roda

Posters - 2024

Purpose and Intent

• More students, especially Hispanic and low income students, enrolled and graduating because of the higher value of the Engineering programs.

• Better prepared Engineering students, who can secure employment or engage in graduate or professional school.

• Increased institutional capacity to serve Hispanic and low income STEM students.

Exploring A Potential Preparedness Gap Between Undergraduate Ministry Programs And Real-Life Ministry In The Southern Baptist Convention, Barton D. Morrison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract The aim of this multicase study dissertation research was to examine the experiences, perceptions, and feelings of pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention who completed their undergraduate degrees from a Southern Baptist Convention higher education institution. Participants of the study had 3–10 years of full-time church ministry experience in local Southern Baptist Convention affiliated churches and had not yet attended graduate school or seminary. These qualifiers were placed on the selection process to allow the discovery of a possible gap between the pastor’s higher education experience and the practical ministry training required for their first local church ministry. Two …

Conceptions Of Heroic Leadership In Civil Society, Theresa A. Thorkildsen

Heroism Science

While nations face multiple disruptions to civil society, individuals in late adolescence and early adulthood are overlooked for heroic leadership opportunities in some cultures. An underestimation of individuals’ abilities is sometimes fostered by biological definitions of human development that align competence with physical changes in the brain (Blakemore, 2012). Prolonged exposure to such disregard can encourage individuals to restrict the information they notice, fostering distortion in the intentions that support leadership readiness (Pratkanis, 2007). Studies of individuals’ conceptions of how the world operates can improve leadership readiness if such evidence is used to verify that individuals notice essential information. Using …

The Impact Of Kangaroo Care On The Weight Gain Of Premature Infants, Heather Vincequere

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Premature birth remains a global health concern, affecting approximately 15 million infants annually (WHO, 2023). Kangaroo Care (KC), involving skin-to-skin contact between caregivers and infants, was developed as a promising intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of prematurity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of KC on weight gain among preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Doctors Hospital of Augusta (DHOA). A quasi-experimental quantitative posttest-only design was employed, with eight preterm infants (< 37 weeks gestation) participating in KC for at least 30 minutes daily. Daily weight measurements were collected over a four-week period and compared to the expected weight gain for infants receiving traditional incubator care. Results revealed a statistically significant increase in weight gain among infants receiving KC compared to the historical average for infants in traditional incubator care (t (7) = 2.443, p = 0.022). A large effect size (Cohen's d = 0.864) further supported the significance of these findings. Despite limitations such as a small sample size and convenience sampling, this study emphasizes that KC enhances weight gain in preterm infants, thus improving overall health outcomes. Implementation of KC requires ongoing support from nurse leaders to ensure proper education and successful integration into routine care practices. Nonetheless, continued research with larger samples and improved randomization is warranted to fully understand the long-term benefits of KC in neonatal care settings.

From The Editors, Michele H. Koomen, Thomastine A. Sarchet-Maher, Jessica Williams

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

JSESD remains a venue for the dissemination of research and practice related to the education of students with disabilities in the science classroom and laboratory since 1998. Volumes #1 through 11 were published in a print format. Starting with Volume #12, the journal has been published online and Open Access. Having JSESD in the Open Access format maximizes access for readers and authors and allows the journal to remain economically sustainable. JSESD is proud to now be publishing articles in both PDF and HTML formats (the HTML versions can be accessed through a link from the main articles’ web-page).

How Does Elevation Correlate With Home Run Distance?, Braden Schulte, Samuel Schreyer

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Altitude (or elevation) can have significant impact on the way a baseball travels after it is hit by a baseball player. Thus, understanding the effects of elevation on baseball can be important for players, coaches, and teams in determining game strategies and evaluating player performance. In this study, data is used from Kaggle to examine the effects of different variables from all 30 baseball stadiums. This data is from Major League Baseball (MLB) ballparks from the 2022 season. After researching, I have found that there is a direct, positive correlation between stadium elevation and hitting distance.

Using Formative Assessment And Feedback From Student Response Systems (Srs) To Revise Statistics Instruction And Promote Student Growth For All, Grace Pai

Publications and Research

Instructors are increasingly using interactive student response systems (SRS) to foster active learning and deepen student understanding in statistics education. Yet most studies focus on either the benefits of SRS or on how students can receive and use feedback, rather than on how instructors can use formative assessment data to inform instructional revisions for the purpose of enacting inclusive pedagogy to reach more learners. This article draws from a case study of an introductory statistics course at a community college to detail a framework for how an instructor can engage in what I call a reciprocal formative assessment and feedback …

A School Nurse Perspective On A Positive School Culture: Collaborative Effort, Rosemary Millar

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

A School Nurse Perspective on a Positive School Culture: Collaborative Team Effort

Abstract

Promoting a positive school culture is imperative for fostering a conducive learning environment and ensuring the well-being of faculty members. Rusticus, et al.,2023, state that high-quality learning environments are associated with positive outcomes for students at all levels. This paper explores the implementation of wellness areas or rooms within educational institutions to facilitate stress reduction and promote overall faculty wellness. By providing dedicated spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation, schools can enhance faculty satisfaction, productivity, and retention (Jones, et al, 2019). This study investigates the methodology and model …

The Impact Of A Living With Diabetes Experience On Students' Attitudes And Perceptions, Kristen Cook, Jessica Downes

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is a published abstract from the UNMC Spotlight on Scholarship 2024.

Are You Ready? Assessing The Impact Of Online Professional Development On Health Professions Educators' Readiness And Knowledge For Online And Blended Teaching, Tanya M. Custer

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is a published abstract from the UNMC Spotlight on Scholarship 2024.

Optimizing Learning Experiences: The Integration Of Individualized Learning Agreements For Emergency Medicine Residents, Conor Dass, T.J. Welniak, Jason Langenfeld, Chad Branecki

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is a published abstract from the UNMC Spotlight on Scholarship 2024.

An Inquiry Into The Relationship Between Practice Exam Integration, Study Habits, And Perceived Exam Confidence Among First-Year Medical Students At United States Medical School, Currey M. Zalman, G. Talmon, Kari Nelson

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is a published abstract from the UNMC Spotlight on Scholarship 2024.

Perceptions Of Medical Residents Of Interprofessional Staffing With A Physician And A Clinical Pharmacist In A Primary Care Clinic Setting, Jessica Witt, Melanie Menning, Anthony Donovan

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is a published abstract from the UNMC Spotlight on Scholarship 2024.

Ob/Gyn Residents’ Confidence Completing Genetic Carrier Screening-Related Tasks Before And After An Interactive Educational Intervention, Elizabeth Reese, Sarah B. Mcbrien, Brittany Bowman, Laura Cudzilo-Kelsey, Sara Fisher

Innovations in Health Sciences Education Journal

This is a published abstract from the UNMC Spotlight on Scholarship 2024.