Enhancing General Chemistry Labs to Construct Engaging, Colorful Experiments

General Chemistry I (CHEM 121) sets the foundation for the chemistry education of Valparaiso students; therefore, it is critical that the CHEM 121 lecture and laboratory courses provide rich learning experiences that are meaningful, focused and both academically and visually engaging. In this project, two new or significantly revised laboratory experiments were incorporated into the curriculum during the Spring 2018 semester for the first time: 1) The Limiting Reagent in Action: Determining the Formula of a Precipitate and 2) The Analysis of Microplastic Pollution in Local Soil. The common goal of both labs were to increase student understanding of challenging general chemistry concepts by enhancing student engagement. In the case of Experiment 1, this was accomplished by improving the visual appeal of the reactions employed; in the case of Experiment 2, this was accomplished by directly connecting course material to study real-world pollution problems facing NW Indiana. Results of this experimentation and its impact on student learning in CHEM 121 are described

Rhetorical Ductus in Chaucerian Ekphrasis

My thesis investigates how the rhetorical device of ekphrasis functions in Geoffrey Chaucer’s poetry, specifically The Book of the Duchess, The Parliament of Fowls, The House of Fame, and The Knight’s Tale. I argue that Chaucer’s ekphrases incorporate medieval memory techniques, which connect the ekphrases integrally to their respective texts. Chaucer’s early uses of ekphrasis in The Book of the Duchess and The Parliament of Fowls guide the audience’s interpretation and therefore contribute to the ductus, defined by Mary Carruthers as the text’s “overall direction” (“Concept of Ductus . . .” 196). In the case of The House of Fame, the ekphrases not only guide interpretation but also alter the text’s ductus by directing the narrative through a more fully developed use of architectural memory structures. In The Knight’s Tale, the latest of the four texts, the ekphrases alter the ductus through their participation in a narrative sequence that especially enforces mutual recollections among the parts that share the same location. Chaucer’s ekphrases also engage with medieval aesthetic ideals of variety as a source of harmony and therefore differ from classical examples of ekphrasis. I last consider Chaucer’s developing use of ekphrasis in relation to John Lydgate’s Temple of Glas. Lydgate’s integral connection of his ekphrasis to his narrative through memory techniques reveals his understanding of later developments in Chaucer’s rhetoric. My findings challenge theories of ekphrasis as a static disengagement from the world of the text and advocate its more active involvement in the text

Consumers\u27 use of nutrition labels on dairy foods

This research was conducted in order to better understand and identify the demographic, socioeconomic, shopping habits, sources of nutrition information, and nutrition attitude characteristics which influence consumers\u27 use of nutrition labels on dairy food products. The data used in this study was gathered from a mail survey of households throughout the state of Tennessee. The effects of demographic, socioeconomic, shopping habits, sources of nutrition information, and nutrition attitude characteristics on the probability of the head of a household being a nutrition label reader. The probit model was used to examine these effects statistically. The results showed that certain characteristics do affect an individuals\u27 probability of reading nutrition labels. Female gender had a positive effect on the probability of being a label reader. Receiving nutrition information from newspapers, books, magazines, and health professionals positively impacted the probability of label readership. An individual not working outside of the home and having children under 18 years of age present in the home were found significant and positively affected the probability of reading labels. Nutrition and flavor are very important food characteristics in food purchase decisions and positively influence the probability of label readership. Furthermore, living in an urban area has a positive impact on the probability of label readership. These results have important implications for the dairy industry, health professionals, and policy makers for the targeting of label information and nutrition advertising. Consumer segments may be identified from these results for nutrition label users and nonusers

Image of God\u27\u27 and Object Relations Theory of Human Development: Their Integration and Mutual Contribution to Development of God-Images, God-Concepts, and Relationship with God

In an endeavor to further the work of integration of psychology and theology, this theoretical-conceptual research study examined (a) the meaning of the biblical description of humanity\u27s creation in God\u27s image (Gen. 1.26-27), (b) the relationship between the conceptualization of humans as image of God and object relations theory of human development, and (c) the mutual contribution of image of God and object relational development to the internal god-images (object-representations) and cognitive god-concepts that persons develop. It was proposed that (a) creation in the image of God is foundational both to understanding humankind as a spiritual-socio-psycho-physiological species and to human object relational development, and that (b) healthy object relational development leads to mature, healthy, whole-object god-representations and the potential for mature, healthy relationship with actually existing deity. The distortion and pathology that has entered the universe and human existence influences negatively the capacity humans have to reflect accurately God\u27s likeness in their relationships, which, in turn, compromises the overall development of human object relationships. Consequently, immature or pathological object relational development may occur and affect negatively the development of all internal and external object relationships, object-representations, and cognitive concepts of objects. Internal god-images (object-representations), conscious cognitive god-conceptualizations, and relationship to actually existing deity, all may be compromised from healthy development. However, the original good design of humans as image of God leads to the potential for evaluation and correction, reparation and restoration of internal and external object relationships, and to the place of hope for lasting, positive growth and change

Application of feedback principles to marking proformas increases student efficacy, perceived utility of feedback, and likelihood of use

Pedagogical and psychological literature identifies numerous factors contributing to feedback effectiveness, including type, frequency, and specificity. Despite this wealth of research, feedback practice at universities is often reported as problematic or poor by students despite lecturers perceiving their feedback as useful. The present research employed a quantitative counterbalanced experimental design to compare the perceived utility of a pedagogically informed feedback proforma, designed to provide detailed, timely, and constructive feedback, to standard practice. Results suggest that the presentation of feedback is important to students; more functional and comprehensible feedback increases the likelihood of students using the feedback provided, and can reduce likely marking time per script without compromising perceived feedback quality. Further to this, post-submission feedback proformas increase students’ confidence in their ability to complete the assignment when provided alongside the assignment title. In summary, the research supports the application of principles of feedback in the provision of summative feedback to enhance students’ likelihood of use, perceived value of the feedback received, and confidence

School Based Health Centers Should Provide Contraception to Teens

Many students are sexually active, and hundreds of thousands experience pregnancy every year. Smith, Novello, and Chacko’s research found that students at a school where contraception is available on site were more likely to access contraception and less likely to experience pregnancy – illustrating the power of school based health centers (SBHCs) to help students take responsibility and protect their own futures. Yet the majority of SBHCs are prohibited from dispensing contraception. To remove barriers in access to contraception and help reduce teen pregnany, policymakers, school administrators, and health providers should ensure that SBHCs follow youth-friendly protocols and provide confidential access to contraception

A nomogram to determine required seed air kerma strength in planar 131 Cesium permanent seed implant brachytherapy

Purpose: Intraoperatively implanted Cesium-131 ( 131 Cs) permanent seed brachytherapy is used to deliver highly localized re-irradiation in recurrent head and neck cancers. A single planar implant of uniform air kerma strength (AKS) seeds and 10 mm seed-to-seed spacing is used to deliver the prescribed dose to a point 5 mm or 10 mm perpendicular to the center of the implant plane. Nomogram tables to quickly determine the required AKS for rectangular and irregularly shaped implants were created and dosimetrically verified. By eliminating the need for a full treatment planning system plan, nomogram tables allow for fast dose calculation for intraoperative re-planning and for a second check method. Material and methods: TG-43U1 recommended parameters were used to create a point-source model in MATLAB. The dose delivered to the prescription point from a single 1 U seed at each possible location in the implant plane was calculated. Implant tables were verified using an independent seed model in MIM Symphony LDR™. Implant tables were used to retrospectively determine seed AKS for previous cases: three rectangular and three irregular. Results: For rectangular implants, the percent difference between required seed AKS calculated using MATLAB and MIM was at most 0.6%. For irregular implants, the percent difference between MATLAB and MIM calculations for individual seed locations was within 1.5% with outliers of less than 3.1% at two distal locations (10.6 cm and 8.8 cm), which have minimal dose contribution to the prescription point. The retrospectively determined AKS for patient implants using nomogram tables agreed with previous calculations within 5% for all six cases. Conclusions: Nomogram tables were created to determine required AKS per seed for planar uniform AKS 131 Cs implants. Comparison with the treatment planning system confirms dosimetric accuracy that is acceptable for use as a second check or for dose calculation in cases of intraoperative re-planning

Building Knowledge Across the Curriculum: Utilizing the Learning Community Model to Maximize Relevant Information Literacy Instruction

This session will focus on the collaborative efforts of the librarians at this Community College and their proposed course in information literacy designed to teach research methods within specific majors. The course was created to act as a sort of “lab†for a foundational course in the disciplines that will focus on research methods utilized in those academic areas. For example, the course could be paired with a foundational sociology course and would focus on the research methods in that field. Or, it could be paired with a history course, where students would learn research methods in that field. The course would include bringing in the college writing center in order to teach students to write within their chosen field, as well as feature guest lecturers who have conducted research and can ask questions about interviewing, data collection, and other facets of research. The course is based on the High Impact Practice (HIP) of a learning community. The course will be offered as part of the required college first-year curriculum but will specifically be tailored to declared majors. The course, as a part of a learning community, would teach to the research assignments that are assigned in its partner course. In doing so, the students will be able to gain the research skills and support required to complete assigned research assignments