Secondary Education Commons^™

Tiny Earth, Tinier Microbes: An Experiential Learning Approach To Antibiotic Discovery, Emily Kassing

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest global health challenges of the 21^st century as antibiotic discovery has slowed even as scientific knowledge about AMR has progressed. At the same time, science education has turned to active learning approaches like CUREs, or course-based undergraduate research experiences, to achieve educational objectives while engaging students in real-life research. The Tiny Earth Project is a global research initiative that seeks to crowdsource antibiotic discovery by recruiting undergraduate students to screen soil samples for antibiotic producers. The goal of this study was to determine the viability of translating the Tiny Earth programming to …

The Casnr L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter: Learning Innovation Network For K-12 Schools, Edition 3, March 2022, Bailey Feit, Tammy Mittelstet

CASNR L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter

The purpose of this L.I.N.K.S. newsletter is to provide a monthly update of opportunities and resources for K-12 schools to connect with the University of Nebraska's CASNR Food, Energy, Water, and Societal Systems (FEWS²) programs and partners.

Included in this edition:

Classroom resources for all levels

Eye on curriculum and resources

Teacher opportunities

List of new partnerships

Ask an expert

Eye on CASNR research: Trenton Franz

Send your students to campus

Success stories

Justice For All: Social Justice Curriculum For The Young Adult Centered English Classroom, Genevieve Hawkins

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This project is a curriculum-based approach to exploring the integration of social-justice texts, topics, and themes into the secondary English classroom. Discussion of such topics will take place in the context of teaching the contemporary novels The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed, two young-adult novels that discuss how the teenage experience is impacted by instances of racism and police brutality. This examination of race in modern society will be accompanied by supplemental texts, included but not limited to Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine and NPR’s podcast “On the Shoulders …

The Casnr L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter: Learning Innovation Network For K-12 Schools, Edition 2, February 2022, Bailey Feit, Tammy Mittelstet

CASNR L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter

The purpose of this L.I.N.K.S. newsletter is to provide a monthly update of opportunities and resources for K-12 schools to connect with the University of Nebraska's CASNR Food, Energy, Water, and Societal Systems (FEWS²) programs and partners.

Included in this edition:

Classroom resources for all levels

Eye on new curriculum

Teacher opportunities

List of new partnerships

Ask an expert

Eye on CASR research: Travis Mulliniks

Student experiences

Send your students to campus

Success stories

Secondary Science Teachers’ Curricular Use Of Ngss Engineering Practices, Elizabeth Hasseler, Amy Tankersley, Ana M. Rivero, Lyrica L. Lucas, Elizabeth B. Lewis

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

We investigated how often teachers integrated engineering into science lessons to address Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) performance expectations using data from a multi-year study of secondary science teachers. Only 7.14% of middle school (MS) lessons contained engineering practices. Engineering was included in lessons for students to apply or support the learning of scientific content.

Presider: Amy Tankersley

Conflict Of Allegiance: Professional Development Challenges In Transforming Science Teachers' Identities And Practices, Elizabeth B. Lewis

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

Case studies of two biology teachers, Cathy and David, from the same minority-majority, urban U.S. high school, provide insights into their instructional practices while they engaged in long-term professional development (PD). Findings suggest why science teachers engaged with PD may, or may not, adopt more adaptive pedagogical approaches in the service of reform-based teaching. Gee’s institution- and affinity-identity constructs were used as analytic lenses regarding teachers’ perceptions of teaching, learning, and agency in the dual contexts of their school’s institutional environment and PD community. Over time, Cathy adopted more inquiry-based instructional practices she learned through PD seminars in building a …

The Casnr L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter: Learning Innovation Network For K-12 Schools, Edition 1, January 2022, Bailey Feit, Tammy Mittelstet

CASNR L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter

The purpose of this L.I.N.K.S. newsletter is to provide a monthly update of opportunities and resources for K-12 schools to connect with the University of Nebraska's CASNR Food, Energy, Water, and Societal Systems (FEWS²) programs and partners.

This edition includes:

Link to classroom resources for all levels

Eye on new curriculum

Teacher opportunities

List of new partnerships

Ask an expert

Student experiences

How Does The Videogame Industry Abuse Workers, Michael Costanzo

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The videogame development industry is rampant with labor and sexual abuse. These forms abuse go unaddressed within mainstream media. Big-name companies backed by large corporations force their employees into unpaid overtime in terrible working conditions. Female game developers are typically paid less due to a game developers are typically paid less due to a game developers are typically paid less due to a gender bias and are at higher risk of sexual gender bias and are at higher risk of sexual gender bias and are at higher risk of sexual assault both of which get swept under the rug to …

How Does A Family’S Financial Status Impact A Child’S Mental Health Growth?, Jacob Faapito

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Children’s mental health is greatly affected by a lack of resources due to low income. The less money one has, the less access to necessities given. Access to education and health care are some of the biggest contributors affected by this problem. Understanding and bringing awareness to the problem can help open doors to give these children in poverty proper education and health care along with basic living necessities.

Depression's Impact On Students' Academic Work Ethics, Kelis Green

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The effects of successful academic work ethics are diminishing as adolescent burnout rises. This research focuses on high school students grades 9-12. It is critical to comprehend why school burnout is on the rise so that we can learn how to effectively help teenagers be successful at work and in school. Academic related burnout is due to a variety of factors, including despair and a sense of academic overburden. According to scholarly studies, schoolrelated depression has a negative impact on a teen's work ethic, as well as increasing burnout and a lack of interest in the curriculum. Academic depression must …

Healthy Coping Mechanisms For Patients With Adhd, Sophia Hernandez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

ADHD doesn't just affect patients at work/school. Research shows that 5-9% of the population has been diagnosed with ADHD, and many more undiagnosed. Those who have been diagnosed can be treated and find healthy coping mechanisms to live with ADHD. Some symptoms that patients struggle with are: impulsiveness, problems focusing on tasks and excessive activity/restlessness. Most people just find ways to cope with this disability that helps them. Different things work for different people.

How Color Affects The Brain, Jaden Marx

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Throughout this research about color theory, it has been found that when you look at different colors you feel different emotions. An example of that is fast food restaurants putting red in their food logos to use the color red to bring people in because red is found to make people hungry. For colorblind people however color can not affect them and their everyday lives, therefore they might not feel as strong emotionally.

The Effects Of Social Media On Eating Disorders, Myrka Perez-Ochoa

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Eating Disorders are illnesses causing disturbances in a person’s eating behaviors, related thoughts, and emotions, negatively affecting a persons everyday life. The three main categories are Anorexia, Bulimia Nervous, & Binge Eating Disorder. Developments of Eating disorders date back to the Middle Ages & are seen across the globe. Higher cases are reported in developed countries like the United States because of the easy access to social media. Social media includes platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, T.V., etc. Social Media increases eating disorders because it sets unrealistic body standards.

The Importance And Need For Daily Exercise For Students, Oscar Bernabe Mateo

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Exercising on a daily basis increases grey matter in the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory processing and spatial awareness. These are 2 important traits for learning new things in school and and storing them in our brain. There is a correlation between physical activity and mental health: less physical activity proposes 2x the likelihood of experiencing depression. The amount of physical activity among students has been decreasing for decades as well as depression appearing to 34% more on people worldwide since the year 2000. Exercising helps the brain function better as there is better blood flow through the body …

Mental Health Vs. Social Media, Alexandra Avalos

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Mental health is a persons condition with their emotional well-being and social well-being. A persons mental health is so important because it affects how you feel, think and act. Your mental health can determine how motivated you are or how you handle stress and or stressful situations. Social media has impacted peoples mental health especially in teenagers that depression rates are higher, as well as anxiety and self image issues.

Men’S Mental And Emotional Health, Gustavo Anguiano

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

When it comes to talking about emotional health, struggles with depression and anxiety, men tend to hide their emotions from other men and rarely speak about their struggles. Due to societal pressure on how men should behave and negative views on men who cry, most men are reluctant to discuss their feelings. Many times, men who feel physically and emotionally tired or at their emotional breaking point are told to “man up” or “suck it up”. It’s time for society to recognize that men have emotions and should be encouraged to express their feelings like women are often allowed.

Mental Health In Mexican Culture, Vanessa Coronado

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Theis research analyzed the stigma on mental health in Mexican culture. This research explored and attempts to explain how the behaviors and beliefs in the Mexican culture affect current relationships within families as well as future generations. An analysis on typical conditions Mexican families go through will be connected to the affects.

The Truth Behind Homelessness, Deymi Chavez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

To be homelessness means not having permanent or stable housing in relation to many other things. Some of the main causes of homelessness can be things such as family breakdown, mental illnesses and/or mental health, or falling into a substance abuse disorder. Other factors such as affordable housing and geographical factors may also lead to homelessness. In the end, people remain trapped in a cycle where the things that previously led to homelessness make them more likely to become homeless again. If we know the reasons for homelessness, we can then help make better decisions towards preventing it.

Dealing With Stress, Yohana Bueno

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

“Stress is a physical, chemical, or emotional development that causes strains that can lead to physical illness. "There are many factors that can cause stress (examples include: work, school, and family or relationship problems). If unmanaged, it can be very dangerous. It is important to be able to cope with your stress in order to live a healthy and happy life. The research demonstrated different ways of coping with stress.

Racial Disparities In Organ Donation, Lilly Brown

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Organ donation and its process is a scientific breakthrough that the medical community uses daily and continues to perfect. Although the donation process is well known all around the world, there is still a dent in the percentage of how many people donate. When taking a deeper look at where the majority of organ donations come from, its apparent that minorities’ numbers are significantly lower compared to their white counterparts. Different cultures and ethnicities vary all around the world just like the ever-changing outlook on organ donation. The focus of racial disparities in organ donation is addressed through research papers …

Effects Of Team Sports On Adolescents, Yael Blanco-Zamudio

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

We live in a world today where sports are all around us. Whether you are just a spectator, or you are playing the sport yourself, it is undeniable that sports has tremendously impacted today’s society. Many of today’s adolescents are involved in some kind of sport or physical activity. It is known that any kind of exercise, in this case sports, is good for one’s health. However, there is more than just physical benefits and effects from playing sports. Specifically, adolescents seem to have the most benefit from being involved in team sports.

Talking To A Screen, Maria Dominguez

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Throughout the U.S. 20% of teens and adults between the ages 18 and 49 use a dating app on a daily basis. Dating apps can have a good quality of communication. Studies showed that 60% of the participants have had positive experiences with dating platforms. There is also information that dating apps can also be a sign of danger such as false information and false identity. This research will show what are the good and bad outcomes of using a dating app.

The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part-Time Indian, Kelsi Decora

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The book The True Diary of a Part Time Indian is about a Native American kid Arnold Spirit Jr, who lives on the reservation in poverty and has a bad home life. He wants to get out of the reservation and do better for himself, so he goes to an all-white school and leaves his family and friends behind. While he is at his new school, he is trying to find his identity.

• Junior struggles with finding his identity as many Native American students do. • Native American students sometimes face poverty, and this can make it hard to …

Performance Enhancing Drug Use In Professional Sports, Moises Cotom Pacheco

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

The use of Performance Enhancing Drugs(PEDs) should not be legalized in professional sports due to the negative effects it has on the body and influencing the youth to participate in its use. Multiple studies have been conducted to show how PEDs affects the body in negative ways. There is also an ethical reasoning to why PEDs should not be legalized. The youth are heavily influenced by athletes that whenever they promote something they are willing to convince their parents to buy it. They are also influenced when it comes to PED use and how they can become like their idol …

Generation Z: Its Effects On The Economy, Yoatzini Avila Cortes

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, Generation Z is inheriting a flawed world. As young Americans, they are judged due to their adherence to the values of previous generations. Many stereotypes revolve around the idea that the current generation is lazy, poorly prepared, not aspired, technology dependent, and dumb. These young individuals are under many pressures due to the new upcomings and advancements taking place in their lives. Expectations from past generations affect them greatly; the present day is completely different to 40 years ago. Technological advancements that involve the media have impacted not only today's generation but the …

Foster Care And Adoption: Youth Aging Out, Cherish Flyinghawk

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Those challenges are finding employment, housing, financial stability, and educational attainment. Some do not have life skills like other youth in the general population. When youth age out they may not have access to education, guidance, family support, which helps them with responsible decision making. As youth get older we can see whether or not being in foster care made them stronger or broke them into a place they cannot come out of. A percent of youth are resilient from the situation. Reunification with parents or primary care takers is also known to happen until they can get back on …

Climate Change: One Prospective, Diego I. Espinoza Garcia

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Climate change is a global danger arising from our own actions, constantly evolving from its own effects. This research will focus on the implications of Climate Change; the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere through the generation of energy and meat consumption; the acidification of the ocean; and the gradual innovation of alternative sources of energy. Ways to mitigate need to be implemented and the population needs to be educated on the subject. For a better world and our safe future we must create a plan of action.

How Homeless People Take Care Of Themselves, Esperanza Aguirre

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Society sees the homeless as the unworthy and less fortunate population of the world. Society looks down on the homeless and pity’s them. They throw spare change in their hands and then go on with their lives not giving them another thought. But what society doesn’t realize is that homeless people spend days on on without getting their basic needs met. They lack money, food, water, shelter, and medical assistance. Which leads them to think outside of the box in order to survive.

Challenges Facing Women In Stem, Karla Hernandez Granillo

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

In the United States, there is a marked gender gap in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. Women are underrepresented and face challenges such as gender stereotypes, lack of mentorship, bias and often suffer from impostor syndrome. Encouraging, supporting and increasing women in STEM fields is important in order to help the United States remain innovative in a competitive global arena.

Inhumane Experiments On Humans, Dakota Harris

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

This capstone projects is about inhumane experiments on humans around the world and how it effected the people involved or what it brought to light. Many of these experiments are kept secretive because of how they effected people’s livelihood. Inhumane experiments often lead to death, trauma, illness, shortening of life, disfigurement, or permanent disabilities in the victims, plus more trauma for the family. The reason why these experiments are considered inhumane is because they occur when the ‘patient’ couldn’t sign off on informed consent of the experiment, or they were unaware of the possible outcomes of what they were involved …