Making Plastic Polymers from Milk

Have you ever wondered where plastic comes from? Materials like plastics are formed from everyday materials that undergo a special type of bonding. In this experiment, you can learn about chemical bonds, see how to make your own plastic from milk, and maybe even invent a new type of plastic! Alisson Contreras and Martina Tesfa presenting. Developed by Meghann E. H. Roessler. At Marian University, our vision is to provide an education distinguished in its ability to prepare transformative leaders for service to the world. This project is part of an ongoing effort to foster scientific identity in students through inclusive practices. This was adapted in collaboration with Meghann E. H. Roessler, who is a Pre-Medicine major at the University of Dayton

Evaluating the Preemptive Use of Ofirmev to Address Post-Cesarean Pain

Uncontrolled postpartum pain has been linked to increased opioid use, increased risk for opioid dependency, depression, and the development of persistent pain (Bateman et al., 2016). The purpose of this project is to assess the use of a preemptive dose of Ofirmev (Tylenol, acetaminophen, paracetamol) 1,000 mg IV in decreasing post-cesarean pain and consequently opioid usage within the first 24-hour postoperative period. This project will evaluate documented pain scores charted in the EPIC charting system by the obstetrics nurses at Hendricks Regional Health. The 24-hour postoperative pain scores of cesarean patients who received acetaminophen before cesarean section will be compared to those who did not receive acetaminophen. Reducing post-cesarean pain scores and opioid usage within the first 24-hours may reduce the risk of opioid dependency, persistent pain, and depression

The Social Construction of Sex

This is a class activity on the construction of sex. I ask the class for all the terms and expressions they have for having sex. We collect them and put them on the board in the order they offer them. Throughout this process, students are not allowed to ask clarifying questions, so the items offered tell us what they understand sex to be. After collecting the terms, the class is broken into groups to analyze the data for themes and patterns. When we come back together, I ask the students about how the data would be different if, for example, male bodies are missing. We discuss the specific sex act (or acts) their language refers to. In other words, what constitutes sex. Lastly we compare the terms they offer to scientific terms to assess whether the assumptions they make are also contained within more proper terms

Getting to Know Our Online Students Through Their Computer Screens

I will be sharing a few examples of assignments and exercises that I have done or have students do in the courses I teach at Marian. They allow students to get to know myself, so they don\u27t think of me as just an authority on the other side of the computer, and as a way for me to get to know them through their work. I have found this give and take helps students to feel more comfortable with me as an instructor, and with completing my assignments and exercises. This also has given them a space to openly discuss topics and feelings and past experiences behind the computer screen. In doing this, it lets the student relate the assignment to their real life, and having them use the concepts they\u27ve learned through the textbook or reading articles

Bringing Global and Local Together: Engaging with Local Communities to Promote Global Learning

In this poster, I will show how German students at Marian have engaged with members of the local German community and how this has impacted their learning

Podcasts as a Learning Adjunct in Nurse Anesthesia Education

Educational techniques are constantly evolving because of influences from technology and improvements in the resources that are available to educators as well as learners. An educational adjunct, such as a podcast, may help students study by listening and using repetition as a way to strengthen previously learned concepts. Current literature suggests that utilizing podcasts in addition to conventional educational methods contributes to a higher level of satisfaction among learners. The goal of this translational research project was to provide student registered nurse anesthetists (SRNAs) with educational podcasts as an adjunct to their traditional learning process and then measure their satisfaction after listening to the podcasts. A series of six educational podcasts were recorded and made available on From the Head of the Bed, which is a free podcast platform for the anesthesia community that is available to Apple, Android, Spotify, or Rich Site Summary (RSS) users. The intervention of using educational podcasts was intended to supplement and reinforce traditional learning practices in nurse anesthesia education. A mixed methods study design was developed to assess the qualities of the learners as well as their satisfaction with the educational podcasts. A post-intervention anonymous online survey was administered to the SRNAs at Marian University. The results of this project provide additional support for the value of podcasts as a learning adjunct for SRNAs

Models and Methods for Confirmation Catechesis in Catholic Youth Ministry

This article will briefly address the origins of confirmation and the current approaches to adolescent confirmation. Moreover, the article discusses the two predominant models of confirmation in the Catholic Church in the United States and the predominant methods for adolescent confirmation in Catholic parishes and in youth ministry settings. Finally, the article delineates three proposed methods for confirmation catechesis in Catholic youth ministry. The hope is that these three methods will help Catholic youth ministers and/or confirmation coordinators in their important work of providing confirmation catechesis with teenagers

Proof Portfolio for Developing Expertise in Mathematical Communication and Proof-Writing

MAT250 transitions students to advanced mathematics. Objectives include learning to justify mathematical statements using standard methods of proof and communicate mathematical reasoning through clear writing. The semester-long Proof Portfolio is the principal formative and summative assessment of these objectives. Students progressively build a portfolio of independently constructed proofs written using LaTeX, the professional typesetting software of choice for mathematicians. Each week students are given options for conjectures to settle and prove. Students submit first and second drafts and receive extensive feedback through Canvas, with carrots and sticks for weekly progress. The final portfolio is then submitted in hard copy. (Available for Review in MUShare: No

A Journey to Improve Student Engagement in Online Education

Student engagement in learning is important to all courses and is especially challenging in online education. This poster shares my journey to increase student engagement and perceptions of a course including strategies used. Student evaluation outcomes pre- and post-implementation of these strategies are included