An Evaluation of One School\u27s Reading Program to Support Struggling Readers Through the Use of Data

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of one school’s reading intervention program, and its impact on struggling readers reading performance. Participants in this study included administrators, Grades 3 through 5instructional staff that directly impact student learning in reading through reading instruction. I collected survey data and analyzed it to determine teachers’ ability to instruct struggling readers with high expectations for student learning. As a result, this evaluation exhibit teachers require more quality planning time to prepare effective reading intervention lessons that includes strategies attained from strategically designed professional development structured to increase students’ reading ability. According to these findings, I proposed that teachers are provided additional time to plan reading lessons that augment struggling readers’ achievement

Abracadabra: Combatting Nonprofit Turnover When Your Staff Perform the Disappearing Act

As one of America’s top employers, the nonprofit sector is filled with outlets for individuals to blossom in creativity and innovation, while allowing them to be connected to a cause they are passionate about advocating for. However, more and more nonprofit organizations are faced with a frightening disappearing act amongst their staff. With this readily growing rate of high employee turnover, it is more vital than ever for employers to build workforce environments that inspire dedication and longevity amongst staff. This study is focused on pinpointing sources for poor employee retention and differentiating the role that these sources play amongst various levels of staff. In addition, this study will compare the relationship between these sources and identify any commonalities or trends. Furthermore, practices and programs leading to higher retention rates will be noted. Throughout the literature review, variables such as: type of nonprofit/mission; job descriptions; gender, age, and education level of employee(s); geographic area(s) of agency/employer; financial benefits; non-monetary forms of compensation; and organization size, were analyzed as they were presented within the literature. The study found that the causation of high nonprofit employee turnover rates are often multifaceted, as are the solutions. Specific factors for the influence of voluntary nonprofit employee turnover were identified and analyzed as follows: commitment to an organization’s mission, compassion fatigue/vicarious trauma, employee relations, job structure, lack of compensation, and limited potential for leadership development

Mobile learning: Examining the relationships between the use of mobile devices and student performance in ELA and math within technology and non-technology districts

Mobile and other internet-connected devices infiltrate society, including K-12 classrooms. A large body of research indicated that these devices might distract students; however, other studies have revealed many benefits when the devices are used for educational purposes. This study aimed to examine the relationships between the use of mobile devices and student performance in mathematics (MA) and English Language Arts (ELA). The study compared two districts, one that had implemented a 1:1 technology infrastructure for learning and one that had not. Archival data on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) standardized test were accessed from the two districts, containing fourth-grade students\u27 MA and ELA scores from the assessment. Additional data included students\u27 gender and i-Ready diagnostic test scores in the 1:1 technology district. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests revealed that MAAP MA scores were significantly higher for students in the 1:1 technology district than for students in the non-technology district. However, no difference was found in students\u27 ELA scores. A Pearson\u27s rho correlation analysis indicated a significant association between i-Ready and MAAP MA and ELA scores for students in the 1:1 technology district. Linear regression analysis revealed that gender explained a small but significant variance in MAAP ELA scores across the two districts. The study provided mixed results for using mobile devices for student learning. Students may benefit more from mobile technology in mathematics than in ELA, possibly because specific mathematics skills can be isolated, taught, and practiced using technology. Additionally, because this study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, future research should attempt to focus on mobile technology and its presence post-COVID-19. Finally, more research should explore making the most effective use of technology solutions to support student learning

March madness for men

The purpose of this study is to examine the manner in which the media covers men’s and women’s athletics and how it may affect the public’s perception of women’s athletics. The study also seeks to examine how the hegemonic devices and primes that the sports media use can affect viewers’ enjoyment of women’s athletic coverage as well as the effect that sports fandom plays on viewers perceptions. Using an experiment exposing participants to heavy men’s college and women’s college basketball coverage, the results showed that sports media coverage did not elicit negative perceptions toward women’s athletics

The Dory Fleet of Pacific City: An Annotated Bibliography

This annotated bibliography has been created as part of the Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City project. Kathleen Spring, Brenda DeVore Marshall, Andrea Snyder, Mary Beth Jones, Alicia Schnell, and Gabrielle Leif have contributed to the document. Many of the articles and other documents were found in personal scrapbooks and files. In many cases, the bibliographic information is incomplete. Research is ongoing, and the bibliography will be updated as additional information becomes available

Transitioning to Adulthood as a Young Person with an Intellectual Disability: Two Case Studies of Mothers’ Perceptions

Making the transition from high school to adult life is a challenging process for youth with Intellectual Disabilities (ID).  Complicated policies, fragmented systems, and uncoordinated services contribute to the problem.  Youth with ID need ongoing support to transition successfully, and this support often comes from their parents.  The current article presents the findings from two case studies that examined mothers’ perceptions of the process of supporting their children with ID through transition from high school to adulthood.  Factors that supported and hindered successful transition, as well as supports or resources that mothers wished they had during transition are presented.

Smart Exoskeleton Hand with Soft Electronics

Many people in the modern world suffer from a loss of hand and finger strength due to diseases in the muscle or nervous system such as ALS, Muscular Atrophy, and more. This problem has become more widespread with the surge of technology over the last 5-10 years. Therefore, we have created a smart exoskeleton hand with soft electronics that will allow people with less than average hand strength to perform daily activities. The exoskeleton device utilizes small, lightweight linear actuators to provide additional strength to the user’s fingers and the hand itself will be 3D-printed with ABS and PLA plastics to allow for a lower cost while maintaining the strength requirements. The smart exoskeleton also contains a feedback system that processes electromyogram (EMG) signals through a custom circuit in order to replicate the real time movement of the user. These signals are then saved as a data file and stored to allow physicians to analyze these signals and find trends of either reconstruction or deconstruction. This system is powered by two AA batteries and one 6V battery housed in a custom, 3D-printed battery pack. A small touch LCD screen has been installed to display the filtered signals from the EMG sensors attached to the users arm while also showing the current battery life of the device. All of these components incorporated into one system allow for a lightweight, portable design that provides the user with the ease of normal mobility.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/capstone/1148/thumbnail.jp

The Official Information Act: Maori with Lived Experience of Disability, and New Zealand Disability Data: a case study

This article presents a case study of the use of the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), for research commissioned by the Waitangi Tribunal in 2018 into disability-related issues for Mäori. The responses of Crown organisations to OIA requests examined in this research highlight both issues with inconsistent application of the OIA, and limited access to information held and made available by Crown agencies for Mäori with lived experience of disability.1 The statutory time frame for responses to OIA requests was rarely met. Organisations also resisted providing information, while crucial information for ensuring equity for Mäori with lived experience of disability was often not able to be released because it was not collected at all. The impact of these limitations is discussed, particularly pertaining to core government roles of performance monitoring and ensuring accountability. In addition to querying who benefits from, and is privileged by, the OIA and its application, questions are raised around the necessary components of a legislation rewrite in order to deliver on a modern approach to official information that ensures equitable, high-performing and truly democratic public administration