How Culturally Responsive Teaching Can Support Small Group Math Instruction

For this project, the author studied culturally responsive teaching methods and mathematics instruction strategies applicable to teaching fractions to third grade English Learners (ELs) in a small group. Throughout his career as an educator, the author consistently observed the need for additional EL math support . Therefore, the guiding question addressed by the author’s capstone project is How can culturally responsive mathematics strategies be implemented in a small-group EL setting? The research conducted in this project was used to create a 10-day, small-group fraction curriculum designed for third grade ELs

Master of Science

thesisCases of child abuse, specifically abusive head trauma (AHT) or shaken-baby syndrome (SBS), have long been associated clinically with retinal hemorrhages (RH). Previous research has shown that the vast majority (~85%) of AHT cases present with some type of RH. Traumatic RH is initiated by an external application of forces and accelerations to the head, but the mechanism by which this causes RH in infants is still unknown. The most prominent theory suggests that collagen-mediated adhesion between the vitreous and retina causes traction on the retina during rapid head rotation, damaging retinal blood vessels. To date, this theory has never been proven. In order to better understand the mechanisms of traumatic RH in infants, age-related changes of the vitreous and vitreoretinal interface were investigated. First, dynamic shear tests were conducted using a novel rheological interconversion technique to characterize the changes in material properties with developmental age of porcine vitreous. Next, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies were performed on specimens from the vitreoretinal interface to quantitatively evaluate changes in collagen with age and in different regions of the eye. In dynamic shear, there was a statistically significant difference among the three age groups at varying shear rates (frequencies) for both storage (G′) and loss (G″) shear modulus. In particular, younger porcine vitreous had significantly higher (G′) and (G″) than vitreous from older animals. Given the unavoidable time degradation of vitreous, vi the interconversion technique used to characterize the porcine vitreous dynamic properties provided more reliable data over a wider range of frequencies (0.01 Hz - 1 Hz) than previous studies. SEM image analysis of the vitreoretinal interface resulted in a significantly higher percent collagen in eyes from 3- to 5-day-old piglets compared to 4-week-old piglets (p=0.002). Statistically significant regional differences were hindered by large variances due to charging artifacts and extraneous collagen from the vitreous body. The EDS analysis resulted in significant differences in carbon (p=0.009), nitrogen (p=0.025), silicon (p≤0.001), and sulfur (p=0.007) with respect to age. Regional significant differences were also found for sulfur (p=0.002)

Comparison of Steady State Exercise and Interval Training on Pitching Performance in Collegiate Baseball Players: A Pilot Study

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(6): 726-734, 2019. Traditionally, a baseball pitcher’s in-season conditioning between starts has consisted of steady state exercise. Little to no research exists on the effects of interval training on pitching performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between steady state exercise (SSE) and interval training (IT) on exercise and pitching performance in collegiate baseball pitchers following an 11-week program. A total of 13 collegiate baseball pitchers were randomly assigned to either the SSE or IT group and tested pre- and post-season on a one-mile run, 30-m sprint, pitching velocity, walks plus hits per innings pitched (WHIP), fatigue index, and a muscle soreness/readiness scale. Pitchers in the SSE group had better one-mile run times post-season than the interval training group (p=0.007), but no difference on 30-m sprint performance (p=0.15). No differences were observed for pitching velocity (p=0.25), WHIP (p=0.75), fatigue index (p=0.79), or muscle soreness (p=0.52). There appears to be no additive benefit on interval training, as opposed to traditional steady state exercise on pitching performance

Quantifying the Functional Consequences of Spanish [s] Lenition: Plural Marking and Derived Homophony in Western Andalusian and Castilian

In this thesis, a new methodology is proposed for investigating Spanish [s] lenition (sound weakening or loss) via morphological analysis instead of phonetics. Word-final [s] is a morphological plural marker in Castilian Spanish, but is rarely produced in Western Andalusian Spanish (WAS). It is often asserted in the literature that the loss of [s] in WAS requires plurality to be expressed via alternative means. The results of this study rule out lexical and morpho-syntactic compensation for [s] lenition in WAS in several previously untested domains, and imply that there is no functional motivation in Modern Spanish driving a need for compensation for word-final [s] lenition on nouns or determiners. This investigation is built on a predictable calculation of the environments in which the loss of [s] may result in derived singular/plural homophony in WAS nouns. This is used to quantify potential semantic ambiguity. A frequency comparison of 27,366 WAS and Castilian nouns, across 60 specific Determiner + Noun phrase environments, finds no significant differences between the dialects in the type or token frequencies of numerically ambiguous nouns, nor in 98.7% of the tested phrase environments. When taken in context with studies excluding phonetic compensation in WAS, the current results suggest that the low semantic relevance of word-final [s] in Modern Spanish is a potentially far-reaching explanation for the variable manifestations of [s] lenition experienced in Spanish dialects across the world

Beyond Problem-Based Learning: How a Residency Model Improves the Education of Pre-Service Teachers

Excerpt: In 2010, the state of Tennessee embraced the call to overhaul teacher education and required programs to adopt a residency model within K‐12 schools

Beyond Problem-based Learning: How a Residency Model Improves the Education of Pre-service Teachers

In 2010, the state of Tennessee embraced the call to overhaul teacher education and required programs to adopt a residency model within K-12 schools. How exactly this would affect the various methods courses in a teacher education program? This paper provides a description of how two elementary education methods courses have shifted from simulation-style projects to projects that involve working with actual elementary students throughout the semester. This article presents an overview of the new residency style methods courses, along with how major assignments shifted to utilize the extensive time pre-service teachers would spend in the elementary school classroom

The Relationship Between Grit and Growth Mindset in Professional Athletic Training Students

Purpose: The demands of athletic training students are substantial between academic and clinical responsibilities creating problems with commitment and retention. Grit and growth mindset have been associated with academic achievement and success; however, little research has assessed the presence of grit and growth mindset within athletic training students. Therefor the purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in grit and growth mindset between athletic training students and non-athletic training students majoring in general health sciences and to assess the relationship between grit and growth mindset in both athletic training students and non-athletic training students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a web-based survey to assess demographics, grit and growth mindset in undergraduate students. Univariate analyses and correlations were conducted to determine group comparisons and relationships between variables. Results: A total of 96 undergraduate students participated. Of the respondents 56% were athletic training students, 75% were female, and 83% were Caucasian. There was a significant difference in grit (U=800.50, p=.014) between groups with athletic training students (M=3.70, SD=.408) reporting lower levels of grit than non-athletic training students (M=3.93, SD=.413). Intelligence and talent growth mindset yielded no significant differences. A weak, positive correlation was found between grit and intelligence growth mindset (r=.341, p=.001) as well as between grit and talent growth mindset (r=.342, p=.001). Conclusion: The current study indicated differences in grit between athletic training and non-athletic training students, but not in growth mindset. Further research is needed to identify how these factors influence success and retention within athletic training programs

Domestic Violence

Background. Domestic violence, intimate partner violence (IPV), or domestic abuse, is defined as a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. These behaviors include physical acts and nonphysical acts, including using (a) intimidation, (b) coercion, (c) threats, (d) isolation, and (e) finances to maintain power. Domestic abuse occurs regardless of (a) race, (b) gender, (c) age, (d) sexual orientation, and (e) socioeconomic status. The immediate effects of domestic violence manifest in the form of physical injuries, including (a) cuts, (b) bruises, (c) bitemarks, (d) concussions, and (e) sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Long term and repetitive abuse leads to chronic emotional and psychological problems, including (a) depression, (b) post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and (c) alcohol and substance abuse. Methods. A comprehensive search was conducted using Google and Google Scholar, utilizing the search terms (a) domestic abuse statistics, (b) domestic violence, and (c) intimate partner violence, for the years 2011 through 2018 and in English. Results. Within the United States, greater than 12 million people are victims of intimate partner violence annually. Greater than 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have been victims of rape, physical violence or stalking in their lifetime resulting in a negative impact such as (a) injury, (b) fear, (c) concern for safety, or (d) needing services. An estimated 19.3% of women and 1.7% of men have been raped during their lifetimes. An estimated 43.9% of women and 23.4% of men experienced other forms of sexual violence during their lifetimes, including (a) being made to penetrate, (b) sexual coercion, (c) unwanted sexual contact, and (d) noncontact unwanted sexual experiences. An estimated 15.2% of women and 5.7% of men have been a victim of stalking during their lifetimes. Prevalence rates for emotional abuse average 80%; 40% of women and 32% of men reported expressive aggression, and 41% of women and 43% of men reported coercive control. Hispanic women (50.7%), black women (63.0%), white women (66.4%), Asian women (29.5%), and multiracial woman (91.5% ) have experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. Additionally, 45.3% of American Indian or Alaska Native men and approximately 40% of Black and multiracial non-Hispanic men in the U.S. reported experiencing rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Furthermore, 44% of lesbians and 61% of bisexual women experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner compared to 35% of heterosexual women. 26% of gay men and 37% of bisexual men experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner compared to 35% of heterosexual men. Conclusion/ Recommendations. Recommendations are focused on (a) prevention of domestic violence, (b) raising awareness, specifically for men and the LGBTQ community who are victims of domestic violence, (c) decreasing victim shame, and (d) disseminating information and statistics to the public that are informative, but not misleading. Prevention begins at an early age by promoting healthy, respectful relationships in families

Engaging Opioid Overdose Survivors: Impact of Peer Recovery Specialists on Patient Utilization and Cost

Peer recovery specialists play a key role in addressing the current opioid crisis. The Opioid Survivor Outreach Program (OSOP) peer recovery specialist intervention was designed to support opioid overdose survivors. In this program, patients are connected with a peer recovery specialist and are provided connection to treatment, support services, and harm reduction tools. This study was a quasi-experimental, mixed-methods approach to evaluate the impact of OSOP on opioid-related and all-cause hospital visits and acute care cost avoidance. Chapter 1 focuses in on evaluating impact of OSOP on hospital visits while Chapter 2 evaluates the impact on cost avoidance through the assessment of hospital charges. The third chapter leverages in-depth interviews from OSOP peer recovery specialists, nurses, and physicians to allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the program’s efficacy. Narrative content analysis was used to analyze the interview data from 11 participants. A historical control group was selected through propensity score matching to compare hospital visit and charges data with a study population at four study setting hospitals. A negative binomial regression was used to assess the differences in hospital visits among the groups while two sample t-test was used to analyze differences in hospital charges. OSOP was found to reduce expected opioid-related visits by 32.5% in the pre and post-enrollment OSOP study group, as well as all-cause hospital visits. Opioid-related hospital visits result in $703 more in charges when compared to non-opioid related visits. When analyzing gross charges and programmatic costs, the OSOP program allows the healthcare system to avoid$1.1M in opioid-related hospital charges over one year and $770K in all-cause hospital charges. The findings suggest that the OSOP program is an intervention that assists patients in seeking substance use and supportive services while reducing acute hospital utilization and cost. Interviews from participants confirmed that a peer recovery specialist lived experiences encourage patients to enroll in OSOP. Peers have a command of the treatment ecosystem to effectively advocate and link patients to care. Further, insights from providers give other health institutions considerations on how to build a successful OSOP program in the emergency department environment