Effects of Discussion Strategies and Learner Interactions on Performance in Online Mathematics Courses: An Application of Learning Analytics

In higher education, a widely used online instructional method to enhance learners\u27 engagement, presence, and achievement is asynchronous online discussions. Yet studies demonstrating their effectiveness, especially in high-failure rate courses like mathematics, remain elusive. The objectives of the study are to investigate 1) what online discussion strategies are associated with positive student performance, 2) to what extent do different structures designed into online discussions impact the kinds of learner interactions, and 3) what types of learner interactions are associated with positive student performance. In particular, by applying a set of text mining and data mining techniques (e.g., Classification and Regression Tree), this study analyzes clickstream and textual data automatically collected by a Learning Management System (LMS) for five consecutive years at a university located in the western U.S. The results of study will inform instructors and instructional designers how to design the better online mathematics courses

Micro-and-Nanostructuring of Polyvinylidene Fluoride with Tailored Crystal Polymorphs and Enhanced Piezoelectric Property

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has garnered interest due to its piezoelectric property and as a non-toxic, conformable, and low-cost alternative to the popular piezoelectric ceramic. A novel processing method through the combination of thermal and supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) has been used to successfully promote the formation of electroactive phases (i.e., beta and gamma phases), as well as its piezoelectric property. In this report, the processing-to-structure properties and mechanisms that affect crystallization behaviors of electroactive phases were elucidated. It was revealed that gamma crystal formation was through thermal processing while beta phase was nucleated through fast cooling and physical foaming of CO2 bubbles. The results were comparable to common processing method and literature, with a maximum electroactive crystal phase of 72.2% and a corresponding piezoelectric coefficient of 7.7 pC/N. The findings in this study could provide insight to future research work on PVDF, advancing its development in piezoelectric applications

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationAs the entry site into the secretory pathway, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is responsible for folding and processing secreted proteins. Both physiological and pathological conditions can perturb protein homeostasis in the lumen of the ER, a situation t

Two teacher educators’ approaches to developing preservice elementary teachers’ mathematics assessment literacy: Intentions, outcomes, and new learning

The purpose of this study was to examine and reflect on two teacher educators’ approaches to developing preservice elementary teachers’ mathematics assessment literacy. We explored the similarities and differences in preservice teachers’ conceptions of good assessment practices and their critique of assessment items. We found that we, as course instructors, had different assumptions pertaining to the role of preservice teachers in the development of assessment and offered different assessment-related course activities. Despite these differences, there were more similarities than differences between the two groups of the preservice teachers with regard to their overall perceptions about good assessment practices and their critique of assessment items. However, we also observed differences in the criteria they used in critiquing assessment items. Discussions and implications are presented in accordance with these findings as a means to improve our own teaching and student learning

Characterizations of matrix valued asymmetric truncated Hankel operators

In this paper we introduce the class of matrix valued asymmetric truncated Hankel operators. By using characterizations of matrix valued asymmetric truncated Toeplitz operators, we characterize matrix valued asymmetric truncated Hankel operators in the case when two involved inner matrices are J-symmetric.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2103.1571

Exploring Motivational Factors for Dude Ranch Vacations

Dude-ranch vacations have been popular for a segment of travelers. Research in purchase motivation spans various sectors of the hospitality industry; however issues surrounding the dude-ranch industry remain unexplored. The objectives of the study were: (1) to examine the impact of push and pull factors of motivations on customer purchase intention in dude-ranch vacations, (2) to survey the sources of information behind purchase decision for dude ranch vacations. Factor analysis and regression analysis were used for data analysis. The results of the study indicated that pull factors significantly influenced purchase intention of dude ranch vacations more strongly than push factors. ‘Value for money’ and ‘Quality of food and beverage’ were the highest ranked attributes of pull factor; ‘To enjoy myself and make myself happy while relaxing’ was the highest push attribute. The primary source of information was the category of ‘Personal source’ which include ‘Family/Friend’ and ‘Social media’. This study contributes to the body of literature by extending the existing motivation research into a new area and offers insight for dude-ranch owners/operators that can assist in marketing and resource allocation decisions

Managerial Overconfidence And Going-Concern Modified Audit Opinion Decisions

We examine how auditors perceive managerial overconfidence during audit reporting by testing the relationship between managerial overconfidence and the likelihood of issuing a first-time going-concern modified audit opinion to financially distressed firms. After controlling for the factors affecting auditor’s going-concern modified audit opinion decision, we find that the likelihood of issuing a first-time going-concern modified audit opinion is positively associated with managerial overconfidence, suggesting that auditors adversely value overconfident management in financially distressed firms and thus tend to issue a first-time going-concern modified audit opinion to them. We also find that the positive association above is reinforced with capital market uncertainty