Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Graduate School Blog - June 2025, Cynthia Haynes

UofM Grad School Blog

The June 2025 edition of the UofM Graduate School Blog helps prospective and current students make informed financial decisions with Part 1 of the Graduate School Cost Guide, breaking down tuition structures such as per-credit hour versus flat-rate models, highlighting UofM’s tuition cap for in-state students, and explaining key university fees and cost differences between online and on-campus formats. The blog also features Brianna Reilly, a Doctor of Musical Arts graduate from New York, who shares how a graduate assistantship and her passion for music education led her to continue at UofM through the pandemic. Additional resources include an …

Investigating Social Presence In Collaborative Keys For Asynchronous Courses, Lily P. Cook

Master's Theses

Asynchronous virtual courses have become increasingly popular in the years following the global Covid-19 pandemic. These courses, with no set meeting schedule, offer flexibility to both students and instructors, but pose challenges for developing a collaborative learning environment. The Community of Inquiry framework (Rourke et al., 1999) identifies three essential components in an online course necessary to foster a collaborative environment- teaching presence, cognitive presence, and social presence. Social presence is especially impacted in asynchronous learning settings, which presents challenges for the students to display their personalities and connect with the community. This study investigates Collaborative Keys (CKs), structured collaborative …

Chatgpt’S Performance Evaluation In Spreadsheets Modeling To Inform Assessments Redesign, Michelle L. F. Cheong

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Background: Increasingly, students are using ChatGPT to assist them in learning and even completing their assessments, raising concerns of academic integrity and loss of critical thinking skills. Many articles suggested educators to redesign assessments which are more “Generative-AI-resistant” and to focus on assessing students on higher order thinking skills. However, there is a lack of articles that attempt to quantify assessments at different cognitive levels to provide empirical study insights on ChatGPT’s performance at different levels, which will affect how educators redesign their assessments.Objectives: Educators need new information on how well ChatGPT performs to redesign future assessments to assess their …

Predictors Of Nursing Students' Stress, Anxiety, And Depression During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Hispanic-Serving University In South Texas: A Cross-Sectional Study, Maria I. Diaz, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Nancy Nadeau

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: In nursing education, there have been several studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of nursing students to cope while in nursing school.

Purpose statement: The goal of this study is to assess undergraduate nursing students' support mechanisms as predictors of stress, anxiety, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic within a Hispanic-serving institution in South Texas.

Methods: Across-sectional design was used in this study. An online survey using self-reported questionnaires was used to gather data from an undergraduate nursing student cohort during the Fall 2021 semester. Linear regression was used to identify the predictors of …

“What Makes It Eigen-Esque-Ish?”: A Form-Function Analysis Of The Development Of Eigentheory Concepts In A Quantum Mechanics Course, Megan Wawro, Kaitlyn Stephens Serbin

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Eigentheory concepts are central in mathematics and physics; they serve multiple functions, such as symbolizing physical phenomena and facilitating mathematical computations. Words and meanings associated with eigentheory develop and vary over time, as do their associated symbols. In this study, we investigate how “eigen” develops over time in one quantum mechanics course by analyzing form-function relations (Saxe, 1999) for eigentheory concepts over 22 class sessions. We share results concerning our microgenetic and ontogenetic analyses of the creation of form-function relations and their shifts over time by characterizing the continuity and discontinuity of the various functions and forms associated with concepts …

Optical Character Recognition For Early Handwriting Legibility Assessment, Franceli L. Cibrian, Kayla Anderson, Yingying 'Yuki' Chen, Lauren Min, Lizbeth Escobedo

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Monitoring children’s handwriting, such as avoiding writing assignments, displaying uneven letter formation, or showing slow writing speed, can help identify developmental and academic issues early. Poor handwriting affects up to 34% of children, leading to academic and self-esteem challenges. Handwriting assessments, typically conducted by teachers, are often delayed due to workload and could be subjective and inconsistent. This paper explores the potential of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to augment and ease handwriting assessments. Based on an evaluation of 10 OCR algorithms using 33 handwriting samples assessed by two experts, the research indicates that Pen to Print and Google are …

Field Journal: The Excluded Middle, Carrie E. Kouts

Masters Theses

What does it look like to engage with organisms and landscapes at the periphery of anthropocentric value structures? How does one break the internalized myth that the “built” environment is excluded from the natural world? When does a hyper-mobile and hyper-commodified society confront the exponential crisis of animal death? Within this series of journal entries, field notes, collection observations, weird prose, and sensory musings, one will find questions on the nature of being human and the complex narratives of care we encounter in a world shared with more-than-humans. Each handwritten vignette and photograph from daily life weaves a non-linear and …

Protein Word Detection Using Text Segmentation Techniques, Ashish V. Tendulkar, Sutanu Chakraborti, Ganesh Devi

Journal of Global Awareness

Literature in Molecular Biology is abundant with linguistic metaphors. There has been works in the past that attempt to draw parallels between linguistics and biology, driven by the fundamental premise that proteins have a language of their own. Since word detection is crucial to the decipherment of any unknown language, we attempt to establish a problem mapping from natural language text to protein sequences at the level of words. Towards this end, we explore the use of an unsupervised text segmentation algorithm for the task of extracting "biological words” from protein sequences. We demonstrate the effectiveness of using domain knowledge …

Factors Influencing Student Motivations And Experiences In Stem Course Office Hours, Gabriella R. Dauber, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Office hours are a part of nearly all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, with many academic and affective benefits for students who attend. However, despite their ubiquity, there has only been limited past work examining the sources of knowledge students draw from to shape their perceptions of office hours, as well as the factors that influence students' experiences in STEM course office hours. Here, we conducted semistructured interviews with 20 students enrolled in an introductory STEM course to investigate what motivates students to attend STEM course office hours, the factors that shape their experiences in office hours, and …

Ai And Ethical Use Implication For Research, Kelley Plass, Sierra Campbell

May Institute

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives, especially for students. While there are valid debates about the advantages and disadvantages of students using AI for their assignments, such as comparing tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT, one aspect that often goes unexamined is the information sources that AI relies on. AI is now integrated into search engines like Google and Bing, making it accessible to everyone. Additionally, with the emergence of AI research tools like ResearchRabbit, AI's role in everyday activities continues to expand beyond easily accessible resources such as subscription databases. AI is now an optional …

Ph Dependent Structural Characterization Of Ich Ensembles Needed For Catalysis, Kevin C. Prososki

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

No abstract provided.

Leveraging Artificial Intelligence In Education To Drive Cross-Sector Innovation, Brent Terwilliger, John Faraca

Publications

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes educational practices, particularly in technical fields such as uncrewed systems, robotics, and aviation/ aerospace, its integration raises promise and complexity. This exploratory study features an investigation of the impact AI tools adoption has on instruction, curriculum support, and workforce preparation, with a focus on online learning environments. Drawing from pilot survey data across aviation and aerospace education stakeholders and hands-on evaluation of AI video production platforms, findings reveal diverse applications, perceived benefits, and critical concerns, including ethical, pedagogical, and institutional challenges. Additionally, the analysis explored how AI-enabled education intersects with broader industry and government innovation …

Why Commencement Will Be The One Ritual Ai Will Never Replace, Essraa Nawar

Library Articles and Research

"We are entering an era of unimaginable change.

Artificial Intelligence is transforming how we work, learn, create, and think. It’s reshaping higher education—and pushing many to ask: Is college still worth it? Are degrees still necessary?

Those questions are real. And I welcome them.

But I also know this: no machine can replace the moment a family claps through tears when their loved one walks the stage."

Setting Up Students For Success: Analysis Of Effectiveness Of Mathematics Placement, Jeff Carvell, Jason Ho, David Klanderman, Sarah Klanderman

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

How do we e!ectively and equitably place students into math classes in a way that provides them the best chance of success? As many higher education institutions veer away from placement based on standardized testing, many departments are seeking placement alternatives that will properly support students. Additionally, math placement determines not only a student’s mathematics courses but also influences their progress in related fields, including physics, chemistry, engineering, and more. This paper will describe three di!erent existing placement systems at each of our liberal arts institutions as well as the a!ordances and constraints of each approach. Further, we analyze data …

Bio-Based Composites With Enhanced Mechanical Strength And Flame Retardancy, Riya Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Composites are versatile and useful in many fields, including aerospace, automotive, construction, and healthcare, due to their high mechanical strength. It is common practice to synthesize these materials using petroleum-based chemicals. Nonetheless, in the twenty-first century, scientists are more interested in using renewable resources to create composites. The greatest substitute for petroleum-based chemicals is vegetable oil. It has unsaturated double bonds that are modifiable chemically. In the present study, bio-polyol was synthesized using castor oil, an inedible vegetable oil. A ring-opening process was used to modify it and produce castor oil-based polyol. The synthesized castor oil-based polyol was characterized by …

06.16.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Email address Matters with SPAN and ARC Forms

Participant Support Costs training for PIs available in Blackboard

First Annual Advances In Business Education Conference 2025 Proceedings, Kelsey Metz, Joshua Ray

Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference Proceedings

Conference Overview: The First Annual Advances in Business Education (ABE) Conference was held on May 16, 2025, at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Hosted by the LMU School of Business, the ABE Conference was established to promote teaching excellence through innovation and collaboration in business education. With a focus on fostering meaningful dialogue among educators, researchers, and students, the conference welcomed participants from across disciplines and institutions. The event was structured around three key tracks:

Pedagogy & Teaching Excellence: Showcasing innovative teaching methods and strategies for enhancing student learning and engagement.

Business Research: Presenting research focused on advancing knowledge …

Soybean Oil-Derived Acrylate/Methacrylate Ether For High Resolution Additive Manufacturing (3d Printing) Technology, Tanuj Patel

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Additive Manufacturing is one of the rapidly developing techniques, as industries continue to explore new ways to create prototypes and end-use parts, one of the significant challenges that remains is the reliance on petroleum-based plastics for 3D printing, especially in the production of photocurable resins. that may be used to prototype complex structures and sophisticated geometries that are typically challenging to produce with conventional methods. Thus, replacing petroleum-based plastics with renewable resources is increasingly important for additive manufacturing (3D printing) of photocurable resins. The use of bio-based renewable resources in AM is a feasible alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. Henceforth, …

Zn–Assisted Synthesis Of M (Mn/Fe/Co/Ni)-N-C Catalysts For Multifunctional Electrochemical Activity, Kemila A. Chaudhary

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

The design and development of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts (metal (M) supported on an nitrogen-carbon (NC) matrix with high multifunctional electrocatalytic performance is desirable but proved to be very challenging. Herein, we synthesized M-N-C catalysts (M = Fe, Co, Mn, and Ni) using Zn-assisted high temperature treatment and characterized using various techniques. The prepared catalysts were tested for their electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER and HER) as well as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. The results indicated that Mn-N-C catalyst showed higher performance towards both the ORR (E_1/2 = 0.90 V) and …

The Confluence, Volume 4, Issue 1, Full Issue

The Confluence

No abstract provided.

Adverse Cognitions: The Effects Of Childhood Trauma On Brain Development, Faith Salamone

The Confluence

The effect of adverse experiences in childhood have been known to create lasting difficulties, even in adulthood. While it can be hard to determine the effects of childhood trauma on the brain, many studies have identified areas that appear to be negatively impacted by these adverse childhood experiences. This paper is a meta-analysis of eight articles that have attempted to investigate the effects of childhood trauma on the developing brain. These articles are specifically investigating the effects of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. The areas that will be discussed in this paper are the prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, the limbic …

Elevating Education: Leveling Up Individual Learning Plans, Maximum Mgrdich-Ararat Sirabian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This three-article dissertation investigated the effectiveness, implementation quality, and automation of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) in promoting college and career readiness. Article 1 analyzed High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 data and found that ILPs did not significantly guide course alignment. Article 2 examined ILP implementation across Nevada high schools, revealing inconsistent quality, limited standardization, and few culturally responsive practices. These findings informed the creation of a new high-quality ILP framework. Article 3 employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design to assess an automated ILP prototype based on this framework. Participants in the automated group reported significantly higher scores in …

Computational Thinking, Informal Learning, And Makerspace, Redar Ismail

College of Computing and Digital Media Dissertations

The continuous advancement of technology has made it a crucial tool across various disciplines. As adaptation to this rapidly progressing field occurred, teaching and learning problem-solving skills are more essential than ever for empowering individuals to succeed across diverse fields. Studies have shown that engaging K-12 students in activities encouraging science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and computational thinking (CT) are critical for teaching them how to deal with complex problems (Rode, Barkhuus, & Ioannou, 2024; Shu & Huang, 2021). Makerspaces and making activities became popular among researchers and educators due to their potential to advance learning, enhance problem-solving skills, and …

Ua35/7 Class Of 2025 Commencement, Wku Gatton Academy Of Mathematics & Science

WKU Administration Documents

Commencement program for the WKU Gatton Academy of Mathematics & Science with list of graduates.

From Fables To Facts: Discovering The World Through Stories And Science, Lucille Helen Vanek

Graduate Student Portfolios, Professional Papers, and Capstone Projects

From Fables to Facts: Discovering the World Through Stories and Science examines the integration of narrative storytelling and hands-on scientific exploration as a means of cultivating environmental literacy, ethical reflection, and sustained engagement with the natural world. Grounded in environmental philosophy, aesthetics, and ethics, the project draws on theoretical insights from Holmes Rolston III, Marcia Muelder Eaton, Allen Carlson, Arnold Berleant, and C. Thi Nguyen to develop a multidimensional model of education that unites imagination, cognition, and participatory experience. Implemented in diverse Montana community settings—including libraries, early learning centers, science museums, and faith-based organizations—the program paired fables, parables, and literary …

Understanding Student And Teacher Perceptions Of A Checking For Accuracy Method In Algebra Class, Abigail A. Jameson

Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning

Mathematics encompasses learning from one’s mistakes and developing accuracy with problem-solving. This action research study analyzed the classroom teacher’s and students' perceptions of a checking for accuracy math method that was implemented in an eighth-grade algebra classroom. Additionally, the researcher wanted to understand how the participants felt about the accuracy method and its influence on students’ attitudes toward math and mastery of math concepts. Student surveys, individual teacher (with student artifacts) and student interviews and focus groups (with individual artifacts) were the qualitative data collected using the constant comparative method. Descriptive statistics was used to collect quantitative data with calculated …

Optimized Student Grouping For Enhanced Classroom Performance, Kathryn E. Reardon

Honors Theses

Effective grouping methods enhance classroom collaboration and allow for a student-centered teaching approach; however, traditional grouping methods are time-consuming, subjective, and can create inconsistent group dynamics. This project addresses these challenges by employing a data-driven approach to optimize student groups based on academic performance, behavior, attendance, language barriers, and teacher preferences. The minimum viable product is a web application with an algorithm-driven system to group students and a database storage for group results. During the initiation phase, a problem was defined with a proposed solution. During the planning phase, potential design choices and grouping methods were researched and assessed. During …

Development Of Interactive Games On An Affordable Braille Display, Daniel Tsivkovski, Dylan Ravel, Maryam Etezad

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Developing an affordable and STEM learning-focused Braille display addresses a significant disparity in the market for Braille displays, where most fail to provide a cost-effective, accessible, and education-oriented solution. This research aims to bridge this gap through innovative hardware and software development, offering a comprehensive learning experience to elementary school children (K-6) who are blind/visually impaired. The hardware features a piezo-electric tactile display that displays up to six Braille characters at once or a shape in an 8x8 pin array configuration. The educational software includes a user-friendly website packed with engaging STEM activities specifically designed for blind/visually impaired children. The …

Exploring Human-Centered Principles To Improve Lecture Slides, Joshua Harlev, Louanne Boyd

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

As a university emphasizing student participation and attention, lectures are central to the educational experience at Chapman. However, slide-based lectures can widely vary in quality and approach. Considering various debunkings of learning styles over the years, it seems more difficult than ever to understand how to most effectively teach students. Effective use of computerized tools has thus become increasingly important as the pace of change continues to increase. Yet, research is available on the effectiveness of teaching methods that can provide guidelines for instructors. With increasingly connected and capable devices at our fingertips, it is imperative to both use the …

05.05.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Research Showcase Photos

Showcase Raffle Winners

Chancellor's Award for Research and Creative Scholarship

Video of the ORED website