National-Louis University: OASIS - The NLU Digital Commons
Not a member yet
1997 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring the Nexus of Community College Faculty and the Actual Application of Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Courses and Syllabi
Get PDFThis study\u27s basis was examining the specific pairing of higher education and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technologies. For this study, Generative AI technologies is defined as technology that is prompted by text to produce text, images, media, or other end products. A survey was conducted with community college faculty members at a research site that did not have an institutional Generative AI technology policy or mandate on how Generative AI technologies can or cannot be used in the classroom or by students. In a quantitative analysis, this study looked at the convergence and relationship between community college faculty characteristics, perceptions, and the actual application of Generative AI technologies in courses and syllabi. In the results framework, perceived faculty interests and perceived faculty motivations are tied in an almost perfect linear relationship. These faculty thoughts and behaviors led to actual application of Generative AI technologies by integration into courses and guided use of language in syllabi
Prison Bars & Bird Cages: Conducting an Arts-Based Participatory Research Project with Undergraduate Women in STEM
Get PDFThe ‘chilly’ STEM climate in undergraduate settings has been widely documented, as women in STEM majors frequently face discrimination, microaggressions, and implicit bias from their professors and peers. While undergraduate research opportunities can help women in STEM overcome some of the barriers they face, these opportunities are not always accessible and inclusive. Although there is a breadth of literature on this topic, many studies utilize traditional quantitative and qualitative methods and do not take the authentic, individualized voices of these women into account. The present study integrates two arts-based, participatory methodologies-- Photovoice and Collage Inquiry-- in order to explore the following questions: (1) What are the experiences of women in STEM majors at a large, midwestern, research-intensive university? And (2) How do these women experience conducting and/or seeking research opportunities? Four themes emerged as a result of analyzing the triangulated data: (1) Lack of Equity in STEM, (2) Lack of Awareness of Opportunities, (3) Confidence in STEM abilities, and (4) Passion for STEM. While the first two themes encompass barriers that women in STEM face, the second two themes demonstrate strengths of women in STEM
An Examination Of The Relationship Between Instructional Modality And Pedagogy Licensure Exam Scores In Post-Baccalaureate Educator Preparation Programs in Indiana
Get PDFThe efficacy of the modality of instruction employed in higher education institutions has been a point of contention among students, faculty, administration, and other stakeholders in the educational realm. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, online and hybrid instruction has become a valued and desirable option for Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) to offer for recruitment and retention purposes. The effectiveness of varying modalities in relation to teacher licensure exams has been limited in research and can serve as a critical quantitative measure for EPPs to assess. This longitudinal study examined the relationship between instructional modality and pedagogy teacher licensure exam scores in 18 EPPs across the State of Indiana as reported by the Indiana Department of Education over a four-year cycle in three grade bands (K-6, 5-12, and P-12). Data findings report hybrid models of instruction were superior in relaying pedagogical knowledge as evidenced in licensure exam results during pre-and post-pandemic years. Online and on-ground instruction were similar in scoring averages with trends evident among years and grade bands of pedagogy exams analyzed. EPPs must continue to monitor correlations between modality of instruction and licensure exam scores to ensure future educators are equipped to meet the unique and altering pedagogical challenges teachers face in the classroom
First In My Family: Overcoming Obstacles And Utilizing Resources To Successfully Complete The Educational Journey
Get PDFFirst-generation college students encounter many hardships when trying to persist throughout their educational journey. They are expected to be successful in navigating their careers, family life, and school – all without anyone else’s experience to reference. When a student is the first in their family to go to college, they are expected to succeed with a lack of understanding the process. This qualitative study explores what assets first-generation students have and apply in their college experience that contribute to their persistence. This research is guided by Dr. Tara Yosso’s Cultural Wealth Model which examines many forms of cultural capital that students adapt from a standpoint. First-generation students must be looked at as holistic individuals. Data was collected through structured interviews with eleven participants in the upper Midwest in the United States. The interview protocol for this study focused on four topics: obstacles, assets, resources and being first-generation. Three themes emerged from these data: determination, support systems, and overcoming challenges. Within support systems, two subthemes emerged and those were college support and networks. Within the theme of overcoming challenges, the subtheme of access emerged. The major findings from this research study are: parents, limited college knowledge, faculty and staff, financial literacy, and difficulty accessing support networks and resources
DETERMINING FACTORS FOR IMPROVED UPTAKE OF HARM REDUCTION SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES: A STUDY OF INCLUSIVE, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE MESSAGING
Get PDFHarm reduction refers to public health policies and programs aimed at decreasing the adverse consequences associated with drug use. While harm reduction services (e.g., syringe exchange programs) can mitigate health risks, marginalized groups face barriers to service access and utilization, partially due to ineffective messaging approaches that fail to align with cultural values and experiences. A one-size-fits-all approach to messaging can negatively impact service utilization, health outcomes, and health disparities. Ineffective communication can lead to poor adherence to treatment, poorer health outcomes, and increased adverse events.
Culturally insensitive communication contributes to stigma, mistrust, and lack of perceived relevance, discouraging service use. This provided empirical information required to develop equity-focused, culturally centered harm reduction messaging to enhance resonance, reduce stigma, and promote service utilization among racially/ethnically diverse people who use drugs and are affected by drug use. The researcher will conduct in-depth interviews with participants from underserved communities impacted by substance use. Interview questions elicited perspectives on barriers to harm reduction service use and recommendations for crafting messaging content to engage populations often excluded from one-size-fits-all health promotion efforts effectively. Findings will inform the creation of culturally sensitive messaging strategies consisting of language, values, visuals, dissemination channels, and engagement approaches specifically tailored to promote relevance and service access/uptake among marginalized subgroups. Centering community voices and cultural expertise, this research identified equity gaps and barriers to diverse populations\u27 unique harm reduction needs
Hear Their Voices: Black Male Student Perceptions of Retention Initiatives At an HSI in the Midwest
Get PDFThe enrollment of Black male students in colleges and universities over the last 30 years increased yet Black male retention rates have not increased proportionately to the enrollment rates of Black male students. Many colleges and universities recognized the importance of increasing Black male retention and invested millions of dollars in Black male retention initiatives, mentorship initiatives as well as hiring additional staff dedicated to Black male retention. Black male students use a variety of social support systems and coping strategies to persist in college despite facing economic, social, and political barriers to persistence. However, many Black male retention initiatives at colleges and universities do not include the input of Black male students in the construction, implementation, or evaluation of Black male retention initiatives. In this phenomenological research study, the researcher explored the lived experiences and perceptions of Black male retention initiatives of six Black male students and six staff at Northsun University, a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the Midwest to determine the importance of an alignment between Black male students’ methods of persisting and Black male retention initiatives.
Findings suggest that Black male students persist in college using a variety of social support systems and coping strategies, specifically peer mentoring, peer support, and informal affinity groups, but do not feel these support systems and coping strategies are reflected in the retention plans of Northsun University. Furthermore, there seems to be a disconnect between Black male student actual persistence methods and assumed persistence methods which has led to a low degree of engagement in Black male retention initiatives Northsun University provided
Why Not Community College as a Pathway to a Degree
Get PDFThis qualitative phenomenological study aimed to understand if Gen X parents are motivating their Gen Z students\u27 college choice not to attend community college. The few studies that focused on parent involvement in choosing a community college did not focus on the generational differences between parents and their children when it came to college choice, they also did not focus on whether parents influenced their children to attend community college or not (Bers, 2005; Bers & Galowich, 2002).
The study explored Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and how his theory and the college choice process are intertwined during the college choice process. The data this study uncovered provided a deeper understanding of why parents and students are not choosing to attend a community college as their pathway to a degree. This study provides specific biases and desires that influence a person\u27s college choice. Community colleges can offer students a solid education with much of the experience that students and parents perceive only four-year institutions offer. Community college administration and staff can stop the perpetuating generational cycle of the negative perception that plagues their reputation
Infertility’s Impact on Couples’ Functioning
No full textHistorically, infertility has been a taboo topic of discussion and is often avoided in conversation because of the stigmatization of the diagnosis. According to the World Health Organization (2022), infertility affects 186 million individuals globally. However, there seems to be a gap in the research as it pertains to the psychological well-being and treatment of men and women diagnosed with this condition. While it has become less of a feared topic, it still is not discussed or researched enough, thus further exacerbating the gap in research on mental health and treatment options. The following dissertation completed a critical review of the existing literature exploring how infertility impacts a couple’s relationship functioning, particularly reviewing the impact it has on their marital and sexual satisfaction, communication, and psychological challenges. Clinical approaches that display effectiveness in working with infertile couples were also explored. Findings are presented in terms of theoretical and practical implications and directions for future investigations. Recommendations for clinicians are also included based on the literature review. Based on this review, a group therapy proposal is provided for providing treatment to couples facing infertility
Positive Psychology in the NCAA: Amplifying the Power and Uplifting the Voices of Student Athletes In Multiple Mental Health Studies
No full textMental health resources and programming in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) continues to expand in research and implementation in collegiate athletic departments of all institutions. This study sought to respond to and expand on dissertation research conducted by Dr. Heather Ryan (2021), an administrator in the athletic department at Duke University, and Dr. Chelsi Day (2011) previously the sport psychologist from Ohio State University athletics, and currently for the National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Both are identified as experts regarding student-athlete research regarding mental health needs and accessibility within the NCAA. Topics of research evaluated for student athletes include utilization of mental health resources, student-athlete trends, mental health program development and staffing, levels of stigma and climate, and more
