Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Tomkat!: Linking Theory And Practice In Communication Studies Course Through The Introduction And Application Of Social Exchange Theory, Rita L. Rahoi-Gilchrest

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

This article describes an activity suitable for either high-school or university-level communication courses. Combining outside online research, small group discussion, and class interaction, this exercise uses Social Exchange Theory, applied to examples of celebrity relationships generated by students and discussed in groups, to illustrate the process by which individuals decide whether or not to initiate and sustain interpersonal relationships. Although students should be reminded that the reasons relationships do or do not survive are difficult enough to understand when we are involved in them, let alone when we view them from an outside perspective, the activity proves intriguing and involving …

Dusting Off The Trophies: Filling The Gaps In The Forensics Collective Memory, Brian T. Taylor

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

With any organization or group, certain areas, events, and individuals eventually become forgotten and left out of the collective memory. Forensics, at the institutional level, is no exception. This essay explores the concept of collective memory, with particular attention to how some areas are left out. It examines how and why certain areas of forensics history are lost, and the impact that has on the forensics community. Finally, it offers some suggestions for forensics educations on how to keep desired stories from being left out of the collective memory. Advice includes recording the stories in written or audio/visual format, bringing …

Developing A Senior Capstone And Portfolio Course, Nanette Johnson-Curiskis, Daniel Cronn-Mills, Warren Sandmann

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Our purpose in this essay is to explain how the Speech Communication Department at Minnesota State University, Mankato developed a senior capstone and portfolio course. We describe how this course helped the department improve its curriculum and teaching, and helped its students enhance their learning of the discipline.

10-2015 Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library Services

Library Services Newsletters

Minnesota State University, Mankato, Library Services Newsletter for October 2015.

The Academic Library's Role In Student Retention, Kellian Clink

Library Services Publications

Student retention is critical to job security, but most importantly, we who work in academe are entrusted with our students’ dreams. While there are many factors that enter into students’ eventual graduation from college, the library can help by understanding some of the basics of the literature of student retention and then by creating spaces, collections, and personnel who are responsive to student needs. This session at PNLA’s 2015 conference outlined research about student retention, summarized some of the reasons that it matters, and offered up some strategies that the author’s library is using to be part of an overall …

04-2015 Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library Services

Library Services Newsletters

Minnesota State University, Mankato, Library Services Newsletter for April 2015.

02-2015 Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library Services

Library Services Newsletters

Minnesota State University, Mankato, Library Services Newsletter for February 2015.

Through The Looking Glass: Barriers And Coping Mechanisms Encountered By African American Women Presidents At Predominately White Institutions, Maria Louise Baxter-Nuamah

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this research is to identify factors (experiences, career paths, and barriers) that influence the career advancement of African American women administrators in higher education. African American women's experiences in higher education are molded by both external factors and internal factors specific to "traditional" social roles within and outside of the university. This qualitative study examines the personal and professional growth of five African American women who rose to executive leadership positions as presidents at predominately white colleges or universities .

There are five main themes in this study. First, African American women who aspire to senior level …

Evaluation Of A Home Visiting Program Aimed At Facilitating Refugee And Immigrant Children's Acclimation And Development, Laurie Lynn Grad

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Ready To Learn is a home visiting program that uses the Growing Great Kids curriculum to improve child development and parent education of immigrant and refugee families. This study completed a program evaluation to determine the effectiveness of Ready To Learn using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Five areas of development were assessed using this evaluation: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal/social. Results found that 36% of children improved from their first ASQ to their most recent ASQ. All together, 78% of children were ready for kindergarten after graduating from the program, which decreases their chance …

A Grounded Theory Of Women's Leadership Experiences In Higher Education: Navigating From The Director Level, Laura Ann Maki

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In higher education leadership, the proportion of women in senior-level positions has grown very modestly. This stagnation is present in representation in leadership as well as in wage equality. Although institutions and organizations have policies and practices aimed at improving diversity and equity, ongoing underrepresentation indicates that barriers, lack of interest, or other unidentified factors influence women's opportunities for achieving senior-level leadership positions. To help address the ongoing underrepresentation of women in senior-level leadership in higher education, I have focused this dissertation on women's experiences in mid-level leadership positions. In this study, I use grounded theory to examine women's leadership …

Increasing Paraprofessional Fidelity Of Implementation Through Performance Feedback, Dana Nicole Shea

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Many of the behavioral interventions that students receive within the schools are provided by paraprofessionals, but there is little research related to their ability to provide interventions with acceptable fidelity of implementation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether paraprofessionals can provide behavioral intervention to students with adequate fidelity of implementation when provided with a short training and performance feedback through email. An ABC with replication design was utilized to examine the effect performance feedback on fidelity of implementation. Fidelity of implementation was measured using direct observation by the consultant as well as self-report of fidelity of implementation …

Investigating Stability Balls In The Classroom: Effects On Student Behavior And Academic Productivity, Natasha A. Olson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

A classroom intervention increasing in popularity is the use of stability balls in lieu of traditional classroom seating. Stability balls are promoted as an effective alternative to chairs at a classwide level, yet there are no published studies documenting classwide outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate classwide effects of stability balls and attempt to provide empirical support for their use. Using an A-B-A-B reversal design, this study examined the effectiveness of stability balls in comparison to classroom chairs in a second grade classroom. Student on-task and out-of-seat behavior was measured using direct observation and teacher direct …