Active and Collaborative Learning in the Program Design Process: Launching Professional Selling in the Byrum School

Sales is an applied discipline that is in high demand by businesses. The development of a professional selling program in the Byrum School followed a model of active and collaborative learning to prepare students for success in professional sales. Experiential learning theory was used in course design, and course components were mapped to identify how they support higher levels of thinking using a Bloom’s taxonomy framework. The new Professional Selling Concentration emphasizes actively practicing skills to prepare future sales representatives with the necessary competencies, and to position the Byrum School as the partner of choice to businesses seeking to hire sales professionals

Big Worksheets for Small Groups: Making Small-Group Discussion More Hands-On and Goal-Directed

In Psychology of Religion (PSY/THL355), groups of students worked together to complete a large (24 x 36) Venn-diagram worksheet exploring the conceptual overlap and distinctive features of four theories of prosocial behavior. Each student was assigned a theoretical perspective to represent (as well as in-class time to briefly review the theory) to ensure that all perspectives received accurate and thorough consideration. The small-group activity was followed by a whole-class discussion. Students gained experience in critically evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of various theories by considering each one’s empirical support and ability to explain a variety of real world behaviors

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Using Exemplar Papers to Improve Students’ Ability to Self-Evaluate with a Rubric

Research suggests that providing students with a rubric increases scientific writing skills; however, we have found that the quality of scientific writing in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) is poor even with a detailed rubric. We tested whether requiring students to use a rubric to evaluate high-, intermediate-, and low-quality examples of de-identified student writing improved students’ ability to self-evaluate scientific writing using a rubric. We found that providing students with exemplar papers along with a writing rubric improved the students’ ability to self-evaluate, and ultimately improved the quality of scientific writing in undergraduate students enrolled in a CURE

Practicing Creativity and Collaboration Through Co-Design

The value of introducing graphic design majors to the process of co-design, designing with stakeholders rather than for them, is essential to the education of today\u27s graphic designer. Throughout the fall 2019 semester, graphic design majors in ART 343 Design for Print Media engaged three client-focused projects. Students developed design solutions with clients from Ascension/St. Vincent, Marian University’s Writing Center, and Computer Science students. Through practicing a co-design process, students learn to become design process guides or facilitators. Students also learn to leverage their expertise of design and research, and not to let their own ambitions or ideas drive the outcomes. While guiding stakeholders through the design process of ideation and development, students learn to develop and raise the fidelity of their ideas and ultimately, design products

Provider Adherence to Practice Guidelines in Overcoming Hypothermia in the Postoperative Period

Background: The implementation of a standardized warming protocol aims to prevent hypothermia in the postoperative period. Hypothermia in the postoperative period can result in inadvertent adverse outcomes for patients undergoing surgical procedures. In 2011, The Joint Commission (TJC) and Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) issued the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) Inf-10 guidelines, known as the body temperature management guidelines, to decrease morbidity and mortality in surgical patients undergoing general anesthesia. These guidelines recommend using an active warming system, such as the 3MTM Bair Hugger TM System to warm patients intraoperatively. Review of Literature: Randomized control trials (RCTs) and meta-analysis were included as part of the literature review with the use of Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Collaboration and Medline databases. Purpose: In this study, the research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of preventing hypothermia in a hospital that adopted the evidence-based body temperature management guidelines. Methods: The author retrospectively analyzed a total of 243 medical records, which included 158 paper medical records and 85 electronic medical records using the hospital’s information management system. As part of the study, two groups, each consisting of 50 patient medical records meeting inclusion criteria, were analyzed. A total of 108 paper medical records and 85 electronic medical records were excluded from the study for not meeting criteria. Results: Patients were randomized and divided into two groups. Group A (n=50) consisting of patients who did not receive active warming in 2010, and Group B (n=50) consisting of patients who received the active warming intervention in 2020. Group B revealed a mean body temperature that was 0.1° Celsius higher than Group A. At the end of surgery, Group A demonstrated nearly a 15% higher incidence of hypothermia when compared to Group B. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using an independent sample t-test, assuming unequal variance for the two groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P \u3c 0.028). The study’s results support the use of forced air warming (FAW) in the intraoperative period as an effective way of preventing postoperative hypothermia in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Implications/Conclusion: This study assessed the effectiveness of SCIP Inf-10 guidelines in preventing hypothermia in patients undergoing surgical procedures. Prior to 2011, there were no recommendations issued by TJC or CMS to actively warm patients. Active warming, as characterized by the 3MTM Bair Hugger TM System warming system has been shown to be decrease morbidity and mortality, surgical site infections and other complications. Group B, which consisted of patients having undergone surgical procedures in 2020, were actively warmed and experienced a 0% incidence of hypothermia. Group A, which consisted of patients having undergone surgery before the release of SCIP Inf-10 guidelines, experienced nearly a 15% incidence of hypothermia. It is reasonable to conclude that the utilization of body temperature management guidelines is effective in preventing hypothermia in patients undergoing surgical procedures

Networking for Success: Saint Joe Indy students prepare for an internship networking event through a Communication assignment

Each Saint Joseph\u27s College student is encouraged to pursue an Earn and Learn internship. Students prepare for these paid, long-term internships with a series of workforce development activities, such as resume development and mock interviews. Students participated in an on-site Meet & Mingle Networking Event in September 2019, meeting our employer partners (their future bosses!) for the first time. During the week leading up to the event, all Saint Joe Indy students participated in a Networking Speech for a grade and a mock networking event as an in-class activity in COM 101: Public Speaking

Wells and Woes of My First Attempt at Becoming a Master at Mastery Grading

In the Fall of 2019, I attempted Mastery Grading in Calculus I course. I also added a writing element in the course. Some things went well and other failed. I would like to present lessons learned, and solicit ideas for future iterations as well

Mechanisms of Bone Loss in Space

The unique conditions of microgravity and radiation exposure in space have a substantial impact on human tissue function, resulting in extreme bone loss. The goal of this project is to synthesize the current knowledge on bone loss in space for use in future research. There is clear evidence, based on past research, that microgravity, cosmic radiation, fluid flow, and mechanotransduction influence bone function during space travel and result in significant loss. However, there is a need for future research on how these factors relate to each other and their collective influence on mechanisms of bone regeneration and repair. In addition, there is a need for more research on potential solutions to prevent the bone loss seen during space travel

Limitations of Visualization Technology and Virtual Instruction in Medical Education

Traditional medical education has recently seen major changes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. New pedagogical methods, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are on the rise as alternatives to traditional teaching methods. While AR enhances real world experiences by overlaying information, VR immerses users in a computerized world rather than enhancing reality. It is crucial to understand the limitations of these learning modalities and that at best these modalities should be used to supplement and not replace traditional medical education