Learning by doing: Departmental-wide reflection on incorporating experiential-learning across the curriculum

Experiential-learning (EL), which captures a broad range of pedagogies, is a process where students learn by connecting experience to curriculum. More simply, EL provides students opportunities to learn by doing. Guided reflection, in conjunction with the experience, bridges the activity with course learning outcomes. Faculty teaching in the Department of Criminal Justice at FHSU made EL and the process of reflection a priority, incorporating pedagogies that include, but not limited to, service-learning, problem-based learning, and community-based research. This study demonstrates three innovative approaches to experiential-learning, including reflection, facilitated in criminal justice courses

Developing Civically Engaged Citizens in an Introductory Criminal Justice Course

Criminal justice programs are often considered a training ground for students’ future careers; however, that training often lacks a focus on civic engagement. This article highlights an experiential learning project in an introductory criminal justice course that was designed to develop the skills of civically engaged professionals. The project, combining research with service-learning, was implemented in an undergraduate criminology course to demonstrate the ways in which research and theory are necessary for implementing social and political change. Student participants achieved the desired learning outcomes and gained a deeper understanding of their role as change agents. The success of this project suggests that a focus on experiential learning can help criminal justice programs across the United States to develop civically engaged citizens

Investigations of the role of lipids in marine mammal diets, health and ecology

Dissertation (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2004Lipids are essential to many aspects of marine mammal biology. I investigated the amount, type and flux of lipids under a variety of natural and controlled nutritional and dietary conditions, in order to increase our knowledge of marine mammal diets, health and ecology. First, I examined the influence of biological and environmental variables on the quantity and quality of blubber, and their importance in establishing condition indices in the bowhead whale. Blubber was heterogeneous in composition, varying by both site and depth. Sex, age-class, season and body length were all significant factors in determining lipid content (quality) of blubber. Blubber thickness (quantity) was highly correlated with body length after?9 m. Blubber lipid content at umbilicus sites and inner depths was most variable and presumably most responsive to nutritional changes. Blubber properties appeared to exceed what was necessary for insulation, further supporting the concept for the need to store energy as a consequence of the large seasonal and annual variability of food availability in the arctic environment. These data establish a baseline for long-term monitoring of bowhead whale health and population condition. Second, I addressed post-mortem changes in blubber composition of a stranded humpback whale. Lipid content decreased due to tissue decomposition by as much as 24%, limiting the ability to accurately assess nutritional status and health. Finally, in response to a growing need for validation of the use of fatty acid profiles as dietary tracers in top marine predators, I investigated the effects of prey switching on fatty acid profiles in plasma and red blood cell membranes (RBCs) of captive harbor seals. In plasma, nine of fifteen fatty acids responded significantly with prey switching, compared to only three plus one ratio in RBCs. Season and total daily lipid intake also affected the level of some plasma fatty acids. Diet was reliably predicted from fatty acid profiles in plasma after two weeks and in RBCs at four months using discriminant function analysis. Plasma and RBC fatty acid profiles provided an integration of dietary history, representing short-term and long-term 'dietary windows, ' respectively.Introduction -- Natural variation of the chemical composition and thickness of blubber in the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus : implications for body condition assessment -- Postmortem blubber composition changes from a stranded humpback whale, Megaptera novaengliae : implications for health assessment -- The effects of prey switching on plasma and red blood cell fatty acids in the harbor seal, Phoca vitulina -- Lipids as biochemical markers in marine mammal phyiological and ecological research : current status and future projects

Women's perceptions of quality of household work

Women’s roles in the work force have increased, however, women’s positions in the household have not changed greatly (Lennon & Rosenfield, 1994). While paid work research has focused significantly on the qualities of roles, household work research has not (Janzen & Hellsten, 2007). As the few existing instruments that do measure the quality of household work roles lack psychometric evidence (Janzen & Hellsten, 2007), a new instrument assessing all aspects of the quality of household work roles and possessing evidence of validity and reliability is required. The first step in the instrument development process is the identification and definition of relevant constructs. Thus, the main purpose of the study was to identify household work themes. Four focus groups of triple role women were performed with a total of 20 participants. A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Thematic analysis of the transcripts identified eight themes: No End Result, Scheduling, Time Constraints, Psychological Strain, Equality in Work, Value, Money, and Reward. The results found women to enjoy certain aspects of household work, but that they lead busy and hectic lifestyles. The themes created in the study were placed into a table of specifications this is to guide future instrument development research in which items can be included for each of these eight themes

Perceptions of Expert Practice by Active Licensed Registered Nurse Therapeutic Touch® Practitioners

Therapeutic Touch® (TT) is a nursing modality, developed in 1972, with a long history of research completion. It is also one of the leading complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. A comprehensive review of the literature (over 350 studies) from the 1960s to 2015 demonstrated a gap related to delineating expertise related to clinical practice from the view of the practitioner. This study examined the state of expert practice as envisioned by those who themselves qualified as experts in the discipline of TT. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive independent focus group methodology (Krueger, 1994, 2006; Krueger & Casey, 2001, 2009). This methodology has become popular in nursing studies. The choice of a synchronous method to collect data was made to provide a unique environment supported by the online environment with the university-supported platform. Focus groups were used as a stand-alone and self-contained method to conduct the study (Hupcey, 2005; Morgan, 1997). The sample consisted of 12 expert, registered nurse (RN) TT practitioners (TTPs), with a minimum of three years of TT experience. They also had attended a minimum of three TT workshops/courses, which included advanced training in the discipline. The use of electronic media facilitated a sample drawn from three countries across two continents. Six very small, synchronous, online focus groups (Toner, 2009) were conducted to reach data saturation and minimum sample size acquisition. Rich data were collected from these experienced practitioners. Parameters explored were the practitioners\u27 description of expert practice, their own expertise, how research impacted their practice, and the direction TT is headed in the future. Findings were supported by the expert practice literature. Krieger\u27s (2002) concept of transformation was especially apparent in the lives of many of the participants in this study. Respondents described how TT had become an integral part of their lives and influenced their lives immeasurably. The importance of practice as one factor leading to expertise was very apparent among the participants. Many of the studies stress the need for practice in order to gain expertise in specialty practice. TT is a form of specialty practice by nurses, supported in a holistic framework and caring environment. Sharing, which includes mentorship, collaboration, and teaching, is an important part of an advanced practice model, and is apparent in the practice of these advanced TTPs. Expert practice includes the components of expert practice knowledge, which is a necessary prequel to the ability to share it with others. It is also a necessary component to provide leadership to others, to conduct research in the field, and to further one\u27s own practice goals

Master of Science

thesisMetabolic gas analysis systems are important devices that are used to analyze respiratory gas exchange including volumetric flow rates and oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations. This information provides useful insights into metabolic function. Traditionally, these systems were limited by their size and the functional requirements of the gas sensors including its sensitivity to water vapor and the alignment of flow and gas signals for real time analysis. Recently, Phillips-Respironics has developed a novel oxygen sensor that utilizes luminescence technology for oxygen analysis. When combined with a differential-pressure transducer and an on-airway nondispersive infrared CO2 sensor, the result is a compact system suitable for real time breath-by-breath gas analysis. The system has been validated for use in a critical care environment with low respiratory flows of ±180 L/min. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility by modifying the existing breathing circuit to accommodate higher volumetric gas flows (±400 L/min) for exercise stress testing applications. Several variations of the prototype systems were constructed. To increase the flow, a differential pressure flow transducer was obtained from a commercially available system used for exercise testing. The gas analysis sensors were then inserted into the main lumen at a 45o angle so that the signal strength across the differential pressure drop was greater than 5 cm H2O at 400 L/min and produced minimal back pressure resistance. Characterization of the flow required the use of a flow coefficient, indexed by the Reynolds number, to adjust for head losses created by the differential pressure sensor. With the flow coefficient adjustments, the accuracy of the flow compared to the theoretical flow value was within ±3% or ±1 L. A propane combustion chamber that simulated oxygen consumption was used to validate the luminescence-quenching oxygen sensor. The fraction of expired oxygen was determined theoretically based on the complete combustion of propane and compared to the actual recorded valued. The sensor was found to be accurate to within 6% across the range of flow

National De-Escalation Training Center: Tools for law enforcement to reduce unnecessary use of force

Reducing uses of force is one of the most significant challenges to policymakers and practitioners Of the various methods being proposed, de escalation training represents the option most likely to do so This article reviews the literature concerning uses of force and describes the National De Escalation Training Center ( a decentralized research and training organization recently funded by the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services With the popular support for de escalation growing in the public consensus, the NDTC answers the call for that training to be evidence based, with the national infrastructure to distribute and evaluate i

De-escalation training: An evidence-based practice to reduce force and increase legitimacy

Police officers must approach volatile situations that may escalate on a frequent basis. As first responders, they often do not have the luxury of ignoring conflict in public and must work to resolve the situation. However, officers’ presence may inadvertently escalate situations, leading to coercive responses, injury, or worse. The National De-Escalation Training Center (NDTC) has received $4.75 million dollars to provide de-escalation training that incorporates rapid personality assessment, mental health issue recognition, and situational awareness built on a procedural justice foundation. Using data from the first year of trainings conducted across the U.S., we have found that NDTC training dramatically improves officers’ ability to recognize levels of escalation, tailor their response to the individuals’ personality types, and respond effectively. Consequently, trainees are better equipped to avoid turning volatile situations into tragedies and exacerbating the existing cynicism towards law enforcement

The psychology of a serial killer

Serial killers are known to experience disorders that lead them to believe killing innocent people is normal. Traits or behaviors that may reinforce this belief includes abuse as a child, torturing animals, and bizarre sexual fantasies. These traits are usually develop as children are experiencing unusually traumatic events. This research is a case study, comparing two well-known serial killers – Richard Ramirez and Jeffrey Dahmer – to identify common themes in their upbringing and crimes. Findings have implications for professionals working in the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems