5917 research outputs found
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Design and Fabrication of Pneumatic Soft Gripper
Full text linkA soft robotic actuator, designed based on an existing model, is manufactured using a combination of 3D printing and piece-molding techniques. This actuator is constructed from Ecoflex silicone rubber, known for its exceptional softness
and flexibility. The choice of material allows the actuator to achieve a gentle and precise grip, making it ideal for handling delicate and sensitive objects. The actuator operates through air pressure, which not only drives its movement but also contributes to its overall softness. This combination of material and stimulus enables the actuator to perform intricate tasks with a delicate touch, enhancing its effectiveness in applications requiring careful manipulation
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS: PERSONALIZED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES
No full textThis final composite explores streamlining professional learning for teachers to increase their self-efficacy. The first scholarly delivery is a case study titled “Personalized Professional Learning,” which examines the transformation of a rural Texas School district through strategic leadership and professional development. This case study takes the reader through a reflection on how district and campus leadership may facilitate personalized professional learning for teachers. Ultimately, this case study asks the reader to reflect on how they would use professional development on campuses to increase teacher efficacy. The second scholarly deliverable is an empirical article titled “The Perspectives of Teachers on Professional Learning Communities,” in which the purpose
was to explore teachers' perceptions during the implementation process of a Professional Learning Community. This study shows to promote positive change in teachers' personal development, professional development, and school culture, district, and campus leaders must construct systems to support the PLC implementation that are clear, vision-driven, and have clear expectations to ensure effective implementation
Migration to and from Latin America: Understanding and Negotiating Prejudices
No full textTo fully explore this question, we utilize an interpretive methodology with critical nuances in this project. Each of the two researchers separately conducted interviews with a specific group of immigrants, one interviewed Latin Americans who migrated to the US, the other interviewed people from the US who moved to Nicaragua. After concluding the interview process the researchers combined datasets to better understand the hybrid spaces migrants create 11 and explore how they encounter and interact with prejudices. This combined study allows the authors to better understand the types of flows of migration in the Americas and unpack their similar yet different personal journeys. Interviewing is an appropriate method to explore and analyze the lived experiences of participants (Lofland & Lofland, 1995). Both researchers are trained journalists as well as academics and have decades of interviewing experience. Qualitative research is an unfolding model for research that enables the investigator to develop a level of detail from high involvement in the actual experiences of the participants (Creswell, 1994). Conducting qualitative research is also personal, and the "researcher is the instrument of inquiry" (Patton, 2015, p. 4), because the experiences, personal traits, and connections the researcher brings to the interactions allows scholars to better connect with participants. Therefore, it is important that both researchers have lived as migrants in each respective group. This study incorporates two data sets of immigration interviews mentioned above: the Latino migrants to the US and the Anglo migrants to Nicaragua. The Covid-19 pandemic has created a drastic and fundamental shift in how we communicate, particularly via social media and new technologies such as Zoom.This study explores how migrants both to and from Latin America experience, confront, and negotiate prejudices. Two researchers, one from the US and the other from Latin America, interviewed 15 participants, in two sets of migrant groups. The scholar from Colombia interviewed migrants from various Latin American countries who moved to the US. The researcher from the US interviewed migrants moved from the US to Nicaragua. The authors used discourse analyze to find the major themes which emerged from the interviews and analyzed those themes through the lens of hybridity. This theoretical framework allowed the researchers to explore the in-betweenness and the messiness of the migrant experience to better understand how both groups confront and negotiate systemic prejudices
Integrating Design Thinking in Special Education Leadership: A Delphi Study
Full text linkThis composite explores the challenges by rural schools when addressing low performing school accountability ratings and significant disproportionality. The first scholarly deliverable in a narrative case study designed to serve as a teaching resource for doctoral or master’s candidates in educational leadership. The article, titled “Design Thinking: Turning Disproportionality Into Opportunity,” delves into the complexities of leadership in a rural setting and its intersection with leadership practices like design thinking. The final scholarly deliverable is an empirical article titled “Integrating Design Thinking in Special Education Leadership: A Delphi Study,” that investigates the key leadership components that significantly impact continuous improvement within the context of Results Driven Accountability. This empirical article focuses on identifying design thinking strategies that significantly impact rational decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and strategic support planning
Practices & Preferences Using the WJ-IV Battery in Culturally/Linguistically Diverse Evaluation
Full text linkSample: Participants are certified special education evaluators and licensed specialists in school psychology currently employed by public school districts within the greater southwestern United States. Design: Study received IRB approval May 2024. This cross-sectional study surveys perception and regular practices concerned with using the WJ-IV Cog/OL as part of CLD responsive assessment.Selection confidence in assessment batteries varies among special education evaluators of culturally/linguistically diverse students. Evaluators in southwestern U.S. public schools (n=257 were surveyed about their preferences and practices when using the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Cognitive Abilities and the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Oral Language with their CLD caseloads
Amarillo Music Director Lesson
No full textThis lesson includes introduction/warm-up questions, selected readings (including a chapter about the folks who have served as the Amarillo Symphony’s music director since its founding in 1924), a podcast interview with the Amarillo Symphony’s current music director, and instructions for an activity that will get students thinking about the people who work as music directors at regional symphony orchestras throughout the country.In this lesson students will learn about the work of a symphony orchestra’s music director, both on and off the stage
IDENTIFYING MENTOR CHARACTERISTICS ATTRIBUTED TO MENTEE SUCCESS THROUGH THE PERSPECTIVE OF EARLY CAREER COUNTY EXTENSION AGENTS IN TEXAS
Full text linkThis composition considers the importance of mentoring for county extension agents in Texas, potential gaps that mentoring could mediate, and the characteristics of mentors most important to agent mentees. The first scholarly deliverable is a case study looking at the challenges of an early career extension agent as they navigated through challenges of finding their way in the organization. The case study questions how mentoring could address the blind spots and barriers from a range of sources that early career agents face, and thereby help them to find belonging. The purpose of the second scholarly deliverable addressed the lack of mentee input in the development of formal mentoring practices of county extension agents in Texas. The practice of evaluating educational efforts in extension programming is critical to improving effectiveness and impact (Dromgoole, 2013). Therefore, this research applied nominal group technique and identified mentor characteristics considered the most beneficial to mentee county extension agents collected through the perspective of early career Texas county extension agents who had participated in the formal mentoring process. This was followed by a survey developed from this exercise and applied to current early career agents to determine how the population of agents whose tenure with the agency ranged between 1 and 3 years ranked the characteristics and to what extent they agreed with the NGA participants
Learning through Serving: Service-Based Learning in the Voice Disorders Curriculum
No full textData collection methodology was a preliminary qualitative analysis of student feedback and quantitative analysis of student confidence ratings.In this scholarship of teaching and learning presentation, faculty members from the WTAMU Speech and Hearing Sciences Department explain and illustrate the benefits of service learning in both the undergraduate and graduate voice disorders coursework. Two primary projects are highlighted. The first service learning experience was a vocal hygiene spa for students and faculty in the WTAMU community as a required project in a graduate voice disorders and rehabilitation lab. The second service learning project included a poster symposium where undergraduate speech and hearing sciences educated nursing students about voice and upper airway disorders. Literature supporting the use of service-based learning is summarized along with the process of learning outcomes assessment and development of these projects. Tentative and preliminary objective findings are previewed
RURAL HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH
Full text linkThe final manuscript explores mental health challenges among United States merchant mariners and rural higher education students. The first scholarly deliverable is a case study article that could help inform others about the mental health impacts of a maritime career. The article could also facilitate teaching mariners in maritime academies or other maritime institutions or places of employment. The title of the article is “Mariner Mental Health: Opportunities for Advocacy, Education, and Policy.” The case explores life onboard a naval vessel. The final scholarly deliverable is an empirical article titled “Rural Higher Education Students’ Mental Health.” The article examines the mental health of rural Texas higher education students and barriers to accessing care. The article focuses on both internal and external barriers to accessing mental health care
An Ideological Criticism Perspective of the Rhetorical Positioning of "This is America" in the Black Lives Matter Social Movement
No full textThis thesis rhetorically examines the intersection of Childish Gambino’s song “This is America” and the Black Lives Matter social movement. Using ideological criticism, the lyrics and music video of “This is America” are analyzed and discussed to address the rhetorical positioning of “This is America” in the Black Lives Matter social movement. Dominant ideologies identified in the lyrics and music video include police brutality, gun violence, exploitation, and distraction