Secondary Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Alcohol And Opioid Withdrawal During Pregnancy, Sandy Segura

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Alcohol and opioid withdrawal is very common, especially in the United States. People, including pregnant women go through withdrawal when they lower the number of substance(s) they have daily or just stop suddenly. Since the body is used to having a high dosage, when it’s lowered or stopped, the body reacts in ways that can be very painful commonly known as withdrawal. As for pregnant women, when they allow these substances in their body, it can be extremely harmful to the baby. These babies can develop conditions such as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Fetal Alcohol (FAS) syndrome. Statistics show …

Depersonalization Derealization Disorder In Teens, Samantha Sotelo-Flores

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Depersonalization Derealization Disorder and its accompanying symptoms affect a teenager’s life. DDD is a mental disorder that affects a diagnosed individual perspective of themselves and of the world around them, making it seem distant or dream-like. I became interested in this topic because of the symptoms that lead me into a spiraling rabbit hole of cross-construct connections with other dissociative disorders.

Mental Illness: An Open Window To Adolescent Substance Abuse, Danya Torres-Lagunas

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Mental illness during the adolescent years comes with its own struggles and battles. Not only the social and emotional aspects of it, but also neurological and developmental effects. By looking at the early developmental stages of adolescence, preexisting factor, and previous psychiatric disorders, e.g. MDD (Major depressive disorder) we can see that there is a correlation between mental health disorders and their effect on adolescent substance abuse.

Problems In The Healthcare System, Julie Suarez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The healthcare system in the United States is the most prevalent and underemphasized issue in the country. It is not a single entity but rather a collection of people, institutions, and resources that provide health care services. As there are health disparities throughout the USA, navigation in the healthcare system becomes increasingly more difficult, and calls into question of the health literacy of the average American. Even as complex as this topic may seem, every citizen and individual should be aware that negotiation is always on the table and is a given right under a democratic republic. As such, a …

The Role Of The Next Generation Science Standards In Teachers' Curricular Choices In The Life Science Classroom, Amy Tankersley

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

In 2013 a group of experts used A Framework for K-12 Science Education (NRC, 2012) to draft the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which aims to increase science literacy through integrating the concepts and practices of science into comprehensive standards for science (NGSS Lead States, 2013). As students learn to explore the content and practices of scientists, ideally, they should increase their ability to think and reason in ways that will benefit their ability to participate in society. Because of the complex nature of systematic education reform, teachers need to put significant time into implementing NGSS to fulfill the goals …

Advice For Educational Counselors, Advisors, Faculty, And Staff: Paving The Pathways To Post-Secondary Education: Removing Barriers And Creating Opportunities For Students Of Color (Soc) And First-Generation College Students (Fgcs) To Flourish, Amanda R. Morales, Edmund T. Hamann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this Equity Tool is to guide education stakeholders with roles in various parts of high school students’ development, in developing shared understandings to discuss the transition from high school to higher education.

For supplemental guidance, please see the companion pamphlet for Students of Color and First Generation College Students: Advice for Students of Color and First-Generation Students: Successful Transitions from High School into and Within College/University

The Design, Creation, And Cognitive Evaluation Of Ranking Tasks In Introductory Astronomy, Emily A. Welch

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Ranking tasks are a type of interactive formative assessment. They allow students to explore a concept by ranking similar situations for a specified variable, preferably without computation of that variable. I created two sets of introductory astronomy ranking tasks: the first connects the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram and the Stephan-Boltzmann luminosity equation; the second uses the transit method (TM) to rank exoplanets by comparing the depth, duration, and frequency of transits.

These tasks are designed within the constructivist pedagogical framework. They require students to call upon their own relevant schema to establish an assessment rule by which to rank the tasks. …

Using The Modern Classrooms Project Instructional Model To Address Post-Covid Challenges In The Classroom, Mary Clare Murray

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

The trauma and upheaval that students and families suffered due to the Covid pandemic will impact the classroom in the 2021-2022 school year in two significant ways: in the uncertain social-emotional health of students and in the dramatic disparities in their recent learning experiences. What is the most effective method for teachers to address these issues during instruction? The Modern Classrooms teaching method emphasizes self-paced, mastery-based, blended learning that could be a successful method to address post-Covid challenges in the classroom. This paper refers to studies that show the success of each of these instructional aspects: self-paced, mastery-based, and blended …

Setting Empirically Informed Policy Benchmarks For Physical Science Teaching, Elizabeth B. Lewis, Ana Rivero, Lyrica L. Lucas, Aaron Musson, Brandon Helding

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In the United States, research on beginning science teachers provides little guidance regarding empirical minimum levels of discipline-specific science coursework for sufficient subject matter knowledge to teach science. Accordingly, in this study we analyzed secondary physical science teachers' science coursework for subject matter knowledge (SMK) and resulting misconceptions of chemistry and physics concepts. Findings were compared with state-level science teacher certification policies. Participants had either: (a) completed a master's level teacher preparation program with an undergraduate degree in science, (b) completed an undergraduate teacher preparation program with a minor degree or more in science, or (c) were undergraduate students enrolled …

Technology Leadership Qualities In Secondary School Principals In Nebraska Who Support Student-Led Social Media Teams, Jill M. Johnson

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study addresses secondary school principals in Nebraska who are dealing with the negative ramifications of their students’ social media interactions. To combat the problem, this study sought to identify the technology leadership qualities possessed by secondary school principals in Nebraska who support student-led social media teams. A purposeful sampling of six secondary school principals in Nebraska, who have all been practicing principals for at least three years, engaged in individual semi-structured interviews via Zoom in January 2021. The primary research question was: What technology leadership qualities are possessed by secondary school principals in Nebraska who support student-led social media …

Mathematics Education: Good, Bad, & Ugly, Katie L. Johnson

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

A thought experiment centering around K-12 mathematics education, and the possible changes that may come about due to the use of technology and social learning.

Considering Student Voices In Reading Intervention: Re-Conceptualizing And Rethinking Possibilities For High School Reading Through Arts-Based Educational Research, Angela Kramer

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

This study examines best practices for secondary literacy intervention and instruction. It also exemplifies the ability of Arts Based Educational Research to give voice to struggling and striving high school readers. This dissertation encompasses three time horizons. The first was the crafting of a ‘non-fiction fiction ‘ play (Goldenstein, 2013; Sizer, 1984). The play’s characters, setting, and plot, were built on my review of literature, and years working with reading students as both a general and special education teacher. The second phase, inspired by the Chicana feminist epistemology process of testimonio, involved a student centered read through and revision of …

Should College Athletes Get Paid, Daniel O. Sotelo

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Students competing in college sports always give it their full effort and in some instances they even tend to exceed the performance of many professionals. That being said, a few moral questions are raised such as; “Should college athletes be paid?” There is no definite set answer to this question so it can be perceived in many ways and it can vary based on one's morals and the circumstances. A scenario similar to this is brought into perspective by Deford(2014) in one of his writings when he states that “Barnes played the same course as Woods and all the other …

Psychological Self Image Impact Among Teens, Kendra Karnish

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The psyche is impacted by social norms projected by society. This is evident when “Approximately 91% of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape. Unfortunately, only 5% of women naturally possess the body type often portrayed by Americans in the media.” (Palmer, 2013, para. 4). Asserted norm about body image effected teens negatively. There are beauty norms that target teens throughout the world, which can cause mental health issues. This is due to pressure they feel to look or act a certain way even if these standards are physically unattainable. Research …

Adoption: The Good And The Bad, Fatima Madera Hernandez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Every year thousands of kids relocate to new homes and to new parents. This process is very life altering and can have deep effects on children. When kids are moved around from one place to another, they struggle to adjust to their surroundings. Adoption can deeply affect people in both positive and negative ways.

1984 Turned Into A Reality, Samuel Aguilar

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

George Orwell’s novel, 1984 highlights a vulnerable society being controlled by a totalitarian government. This novel can be compared to The Holocaust due to the similar circumstances that the Jewish population had to face. The corruption, oppression, manipulation, and excessive surveillance that the citizens faced in the novel, 1984 was a reality to the Jewish population during the Holocaust.

How Does A High School Student’S Ability To Accomplish And Set Goals Ensure Future Success In Life?, Wilber Aguilar

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Goal setting is a very important part of being successful in life. Goals allow a student to be self-motivated and build many skills that will be useful later in their life after high school and college. It is important to develop these good goal setting skills so that a student will always be motivated and focused to work towards something. It has been seen that students who set goals are more likely to develop characteristics of leadership, team work, accountability, and overcoming tough challenges they may encounter.

How Does Nature Vs. Nurture Impact The Outcome Of Violence In Children, Torri Almond

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Some believe that nature is the determining factor in how children act. Others believe it is all in the nurturing of children. Although, what impacts children’s actions and how they behave, is an unhealthy balance of both genes that an unhealthy balance of both genes that may make one susceptible to violent or delinquent behaviors, and exposure to a delinquent behaviors, and exposure to a negative environment. Studies about these negative environment. Studies about these “bad” genes, or genes that may make a child predisposed to undesirable behaviors have shown that gene expression is likely to be amplified when exposed …

Insufficient Sleep And Adolescents, Angel Cavazos

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Sleep insufficiency is the decrease in either sleep quality, or quantity, to where performance is decreased. Sleep is important for adolescents as it plays an important role in mood and development of depressive symptoms. A myriad of troubling side effects stem from sleep loss including weight gain, depression, suicidal ideation, drowsy driving, and lower performance.

The Monopoly On Internet Privacy, Katherine Lopez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

As time has evolved, the evasion of the issue surrounding internet privacy has become condoning. It can be prominently seen that peoples’ online information can be sold, distributed, and abused by big corporations. Therefore, big media corporations can sell or use this information to profit. In George Orwell's book 1984, private citizens live lives that are controlled by the government, their largest corporation, through the use of knowledge gained by technology. In the novel 1984, most people besides the main character Winston are clueless and do not have any knowledge of what the government is doing.As these corporations continue to …

The Wage Gap In The Medical Field, Alanna Jones

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

In the medical industry there has always been the argument of why don’t women get paid more than their male counterparts. There currently is not any work being done to get the gap closed between female and male medical workers. The importance of this research is to see the reasons as to why there is a wage gap in the medical field and what has caused it. It goes further into depth of how society has played a factor and what can people do to help to close this gap.

Isolation And The Human Mind, Eli Flodman

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The Lord of The Flies is a novel tailored to the fundamental innocence found in man as well as the effects of mob mentality and extreme isolation. This research focuses on the effects of isolation within a small group while comparing COVID families to the Lord of The Flies.

Raising Multilingual And Bilingual Children, Emily Hernandez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Raising children in a multilingual environment is a very challenging but important part of child development. Many families can agree that having the ability to know multiple languages is a huge advantage to have for future purposes. Separating the role of schools and parents is a very important process. At home, families encounter many activities and real life scenarios. This makes a huge impact on a children's language and literacy. It is a challenge that has positive impacts for the children as well as for the community.

Child Abuse, Mathew Ramirez Lopez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

In the United States, child abuse is defined as the physical maltreatment or sexual molestation of a child. Four majortypes of child abuse exist: neglect, physical, sexual, and psychological.The atrocityofchild abuse is that the abuse leaves the children with everlasting emotionalscars, and often,withphysical,cognitive, andsocial health issues. The irreversible affects such as head trauma, lower performance inschool, and poor social skills are equally as important. As the years continue, more and more children are being,and will be, abused. Overall, the importance is stopping this crime that does not need to happen.

The Foster Care System: Domestic Abuse, Guadalupe Hernandez Rodriguez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

In the United States, children not only experience domestic abuse at home but can also be an issue while placed in the foster care system. In the foster care system, the abuse suffered by these individuals is increased due to home instability. Abuse can take place in many forms (physical, emotional, economical, and sexual) and can occur in many places. It can become a life-threatening crime or a crime that affects an individual’s day-to-day life. The youth and young adults who pass through this system are left with physical injuries and adverse childhood experiences (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction). The …

Media Manipulation And Perseverance, Ivan Palma Vargas

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Media manipulation is a technique the media use to paint a false image that persuades their audience to their views on topics. In 1984, by George Orwell, the falsification of history and constant propaganda spread by the Ministries are an eerie resemblance to today’s American media spreading false information and biased viewpoints to implement irrational thoughts and emotions to their audience. The significance of media manipulation is the impact it has on American citizens as media in the digital era is at constant show and citizens are constantly taking in false information. The research conducted was on a survey after …

Acculturation, Nyanhial Wiyual Pal

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The phenomenon of acculturation occurs when groups of people from different cultures come into constant contact with shifts in the original culture, the host country's culture, or the cultures of both groups. It can affect immigrants’ health and well-being as a result of coping with stressful experiences such as prejudice, racism, and poverty, as well as changes in or loss of identity, a lack of social support, exposure to diverse views, cultural values and norms, and particular patterns of health behaviors (drinking, smoking, taking illicit drugs).

Addiction-Family Impacts, Emily Orona

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Drug and alcohol addiction is a disease that negatively affects a person's brain and behavior which leads to an inability to control the use of legal or illegal drugs. Addiction is sometimes used interchangeably with abuse, although they differ tremendously. Those who abuse drugs and alcohol still have control over their lives, while those with an addiction have a disease that affects many aspects of their life. Drug and alcohol addiction does not only impact the individual, but also their family. It is especially more challenging when a parent has addiction. Addiction affects not only the parent, but the child …

1984: A Reality For Soviet Citizens, German Murcia-Martinez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Many countries have fallen victim to tyrannical leaders in the past. For example, Joseph Stalin had the Soviet Union under his grip for the longest time. His rule did not end until his death. In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, the country of Oceania was being controlled by Big Brother with the help of the Party. While being somewhat different, both the Soviet Union under Stalin and Oceania share incredible similarities.

Why We Create Enemies, Jerry Mejia

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Our enemies are not always distinguishable by features such as a black trench coat or twirly mustache. However, humans still attempt to characterize their enemies into a stereotype. This is to create a sense of calm-you know who your enemy is. This research topic explored why society requires a scapegoat to feel better about its own shortcomings. Even if the worst happens, at least we will know who to blame. This has been human nature for thousands of years and will continue to do so.