The Relationship Between Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions of Student Motivation and their Use of Instructional Strategies for At-Risk Math Students

Student motivation in mathematics education can be affected by many variables, especially for at-risk students. Existing information is limited regarding teacher perceptions of their own pedagogy, instructional strategies, and at-risk student motivation in the area of mathematics for middle school and high school students. The purpose of this study was to analyze middle school and high school mathematics teachers’ perceptions of their own pedagogy, instructional strategies, and at-risk students’ motivation in mathematics. Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory was the theoretical framework used to guide the current study, which focuses on psychological and instinctive needs of individuals. An explanatory, sequential mixed method design was used to examine data from two separate quantitative surveys and qualitative data gathered from eight one-on-one interviews. Using SPSS analytical computer software, descriptive statistics were obtained. Qualitative data were coded manually by the researcher using in-vivo coding and then again using axial coding. Some of the key findings of the study included participants perceived at-risk students were more motivated in mathematics when the curriculum made connections to students’ everyday lives and perceived teacher relationships with students had the greatest impact on student motivation. The results of this study may encourage mathematics teachers to develop relationships with their at-risk students and choose instructional strategies, which may promote at-risk student motivation in mathematics

THE EFFECT OF HDAC INHIBITORS ON RETINAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHICK EMBRYO

poster abstractIntroduction: Gene expression is regulated by the accessibility of regulatory cis-acting DNA elements as well as availability of transcription factors. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) can regulate gene expression by deacetylating histone tails, which leads to a closed conformation of the DNA/histone complex and generally a reduction in expression. HDACs have been proposed to play a key role in cell survival, proliferation and differentiation; however, fewer studies have been focusing on the role of HDACs in the developing vertebrate retina. Methods: Chick retinal explants were treated with vehicle (dimethyl sulphoxide(DMSO)) or 1.0 M Trichstatin A (TSA), a known inhibitor of class 1 and 2 HDACs. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to analyze the levels of cleaved caspase 3, a protein activated during apoptosis, phospho-histone 3 (pH3) marker for mitotic phase, SOX2 which marks progenitor cells, and Islet-1 which marks differentiated cells. Digital images were analyzed using Image J/FIJI software for numbers of labeled cells. Results: After treatment with control or TSA, numbers of progenitor and differentiating cells were quantified. TSA-treated samples showed a statistically significant increase in SOX2+ (progenitors) and an increase in islet-1+ (differentiating) cells. To assess if any differences in proliferation and/or cell death that might lead to an increase in the number of progenitor and differentiating cells, samples were labeled for pH3 or cleaved caspase 3. Treatment with TSA led to increases in cells positive for pH3 and a statistically significant increase in cells positive for cleaved caspase 3 compared to controls. Conclusions: HDAC inhibitor, TSA, increased the number of progenitor and differentiating cells by increasing proliferation within the developing retina. However, there was also an increase in the number of cells undergoing apoptosis. Ongoing studies will determine which HDACs may be responsible for these results

Investigating the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT) as a rehabilitation outcome measure

Reliable and valid outcome measures are needed in community rehabilitation settings following acquired neurological injury. The Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT) (Su, Tay and Diener, 2013) was investigated for this purpose. The CIT is a 54 item self-report measure that provides 18 subscales and seven main scales of thriving: Relationships, Engagement, Mastery, Autonomy, Meaning, Optimism and Subjective Well-being. Participants (n=76) were administered the CIT on admission to a community rehabilitation service. The mean age of participants was 54.8 (SD = 17.7), with 43% being male. The main diagnostic groups were cerebrovascular disease (28%), traumatic brain injury (17%) and Parkinson's disease (12%). Internal consistency was moderate to high (α =.6 to .9) for all subscales with the exception of Support (Relationships) and Skills (Mastery); and high (α=.79-.93) for all indexes with the exception of Subjective Wellbeing. Correlational analyses supported the scale groupings. However, the subscales of Support (Relationships) and Skills (Mastery) did not correlate significantly with any subscales. Additionally the Subjective Well-being scale should not be calculated, but instead its three subscales (Negative Feelings, Life Satisfaction, Positive Feelings) used individually. In terms of demographic variables, there were no significant gender differences on CIT scales. Age had low correlations with two Relationships subscales only (Trust r=.23, p=.04; Loneliness r=-.25, p=.03). Diagnostic group minimally influenced CIT scores. Significant between-group differences were only found for Accomplishment (Mastery), with post-hoc analyses indicating higher levels for the cerebrovascular group. The CIT shows considerable promise in rehabilitation outcomes as a reliable and valid multi-component measure of wellbeing

An investigation of alcohol consumption in North Queensland: an application of the prototype willingness model

Background/Aims: The prototype willingness (PW) model suggests that there are two separate antecedents to behaviour: intention and willingness. Whereas intention is suggested to be reasoned and deliberative, willingness is more automatic and reactive. The aim of this study was to assess alcohol consumption in an Australian sample as well as the antecedents to drinking behaviour on both weekdays and weekend days. Methods: The sample for this study was taken from a larger cross-cultural study (n=371); however only those who identified as Australian were included in the current analysis. From the original sample, 177 participants identified as Australian (115 females and 62 males). Participants completed a questionnaire assessing demographic variables, alcohol consumption and variables on the PW model. Results: Participants reported consuming more alcohol during weekend drinking sessions (M = 5.60, SD = 4.80) than weekday drinking sessions (M = 1.46, SD = 2.49). The model accounted for 15.0% of the variance in the quantity of alcohol consumed in a typical weekday drinking session and 41.5% of the variance in a typical weekend drinking session. Willingness to drink significantly predicted alcohol consumption during weekday drinking sessions. Both willingness and intention to drink, and demographic variables significantly predicted alcohol consumption during weekend drinking sessions. Conclusion: The antecedents of the PW model differentially predicted alcohol consumption during a typical weekday and weekend drinking session

Incidental sun exposure in North Queensland: an application of the prototype willingness (PW) model

Objective: The prevalence of skin cancer in North Queensland is among the highest in the world (Buettner & Rasch, 1998), yet comparably few individuals report deliberately sunbathing to get a tan. This might suggest that skin damage in this region is due to incidental exposure that is not planned or deliberate. While the theoretical frameworks which have been adopted in past research can account for planned behaviours such as deliberate tanning, such models may not be suited to predicting unplanned behaviour such as incidental sun exposure. Therefore, alternative frameworks need to be explored. The prototype willingness (PW) model is a dual-process model which has been useful in the prediction of behaviours that are considered unplanned or spontaneous such as binge drinking and drug abuse. The current study aims to explore whether the dual pathways of the PW model differentially predict deliberate and incidental sun exposing behaviours. Methods: Community participants (n=218) from the North Queensland region completed a survey about their sun-related behaviours. Participants also responded to items that assessed standing on the PW model variables. Predictive modelling techniques were used to determine which of the model's proximal antecedents in each pathway was a better predictor of each type of exposure behaviour. Results: When controlling for age, skin sensitivity and gender; behavioural intention was the sole predictor of deliberate sun exposure (p<.05). Incidental sun exposure was predicted by both behavioural intention and behavioural willingness (p's<.05). This indicates that while engaging in deliberate sun exposure may be a deliberative process, there may be a number of cognitive mechanisms influencing incidental sun exposure. Conclusions: The current research provides support for the use of the PW model to explain variance across a range of sun-related behaviours, particularly incidental sun exposure. To date, skin cancer prevention efforts have focused on decreasing deliberate sun exposure. In North Queensland though, where the ambient ultra-violet radiation is high to extreme all year, incidental sun exposure may need to be targeted in order to reduce the prevalence of skin cancer. The current findings suggest that the PW model may be able to provide possible avenues for future health promotion activities to reduce incidental sun exposure in high risk regions

Proteasome-Mediated Regulation of Cdhr1a by Siah1 Modulates Photoreceptor Development and Survival in Zebrafish

Congenital retinal dystrophies are a major cause of unpreventable and incurable blindness worldwide. Mutations in CDHR1, a retina specific cadherin, are associated with cone-rod dystrophy. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is responsible for mediating orderly and precise targeting of protein degradation to maintain biological homeostasis and coordinate proper development, including retinal development. Recently, our lab uncovered that the seven in absentia (Siah) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases play a role in optic fissure fusion and identified Cdhr1a as a potential target of Siah. Using two-color whole mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we detected siah1 and cdhr1a co-expression as well as protein localization in the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL), and more precisely in the connecting cilium of rods and cones between 3–5 days post fertilization (dpf). We confirmed that Siah1 targets Cdhr1a for proteasomal degradation by co-transfection and co-immunoprecipitation in cell culture. To analyze the functional importance of this interaction, we created two transgenic zebrafish lines that express siah1 or an inactive siah1 (siah1ΔRING) under the control of the heat shock promoter to modulate Siah activity during photoreceptor development. Overexpression of siah1, but not siah1ΔRING, resulted in a decrease in the number of rods and cones at 72 h post fertilization (hpf). The number of retinal ganglion cells, amacrine and bipolar cells was not affected by Siah1 overexpression, and there was no significant reduction of proliferating cells in the Siah1 overexpressing retina. We did, however, detect increased cell death, confirmed by an increase in the number of TUNEL + cells in the ONL, which was proteasome-dependent, as proteasome inhibition rescued the cell death phenotype. Furthermore, reduction in rods and cones resulting from increased Siah1 expression was rescued by injection of cdhr1a mRNA, and to an even greater extent by injection of a Siah1-insensitive cdhr1a variant mRNA. Lastly, CRISPR induced loss of Cdhr1a function phenocopied Siah1 overexpression resulting in a significant reduction of rods and cones. Taken together, our work provides the first evidence that Cdhr1a plays a role during early photoreceptor development and that Cdhr1a is regulated by Siah1 via the UPS

Why You Should Be Putting Skills on Your Syllabus

In the 21st Century, attaining a college degree simply for the sake of becoming educated is a luxury most of our students simply cannot afford. Their motivation is multifaceted - they want to learn, but they also want to get hired. To help students be marketable, professors must emphasize skill development as well as content knowledge, starting with day one on the syllabus. Utilizing a small sample from two institutions (one in the Midwest, one in the Southeast), we provide evidence of students’ perceptions of the benefits of putting skills on the syllabus in both psychology and sport science courses

Avary-Fulton House

Prepared by the Fall 2015 Conservation of Historic Building Materials class. The Avary-Fulton house is one of the oldest residences in Decatur, Georgia, built in 1868. This historic structure report (HSR) intends to provide a brief history of the residence, describe the site and setting, document the present condition, highlight any issues, and provide recommendations for its preservation and maintenance.https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_heritagepreservation/1002/thumbnail.jp

Commemorative Air Force: Dixie Wing

Prepared by the Fall 2016 Interpretive Planning Class. This interpretive plan evaluates the existing conditions of the Dixie Wing\u27s membership, resources, management and opportunities to enable the administration to monitor, review and implement policies and processes going forward. Comprehensive analysis of administration and membership goals, in addition to delineating a series of guiding themes for the exhibit, are included in the interpretive plan. Policy and initiative recommendations are also included as a sustainable model in the areas of environment, experience and community which emphasize membership input, resource management, logistical, fiscal and administrative structures for future growth.https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/history_heritagepreservation/1015/thumbnail.jp