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Movies to Represent Us: How is This Movie Worth Preserving?
No full textThis assignment was developed through the SHSU Writing in the Disciplines workshop to emphasize critical thinking and provide students with a multimedia analysis assignment as the semester’s final assignment for an English 1302 course
KEYNOTE: The Opportunity for Innovation in Practice Despite a Challenging Time Frame
No full textWe are in challenging times in US higher education. Enrollment pressures, financial pressures, regulatory pressures, and little movement in the EdTech space beyond explorations of generative AI. And yet, this moment presents a real opportunity for universities to innovate in the practice of applying technology carefully to support our students. There has been a step change in the consistent usage of EdTech due to the pandemic, and new opportunities are now available to scale innovations and support a broader array of students. This talk will explore how we got to this point, what lessons we have learned, and some examples of promising innovations both in pilots and at scale
Investigating the Impact of Test Preparation Programs on Teacher Candidates' Performance on State Certification Exams
Get PDFThe purpose of this ex post facto quantitative study was to examine the
correlation between the scores of preservice teachers on 240 Tutoring STR practice tests and their scores on the actual STR exam and to explore the extent to which test preparation programs predicted performance on certification exams. In addition, this study compared the scores of teacher candidates who used only the 240 Tutoring software to those who indicated the use of test preparation materials outside of the 240 Tutoring system. It was the intent that the data harvested from the 240 Tutoring archival records would reveal which components of the test preparation software were most effective in predicting greater score yields and how time spent on each of the components influenced exam scores. The current study was conducted by analyzing quantitative data consisting of overall time spent using the 240 Tutoring test preparation software, time spent using each of the program’s study components, scores earned on practice tests within the system,
and actual scores on the STR exam. Along with these data, survey responses were collected from a smaller sample of participants and analyzed to determine if patterns of usage affected exam scores and what, if any, additional materials teacher candidates used to study for the certification exam. Findings indicated that more time spent utilizing the 240 Tutoring test preparation materials, along with a greater percentage of dedicated time spent focusing on instructional materials, had the greatest impact on STR exam scale scores. Survey results also revealed that candidates who supplemented their studies with additional resources were more successful on the STR exam than participants who utilized only STR materials
Sabbaticals as Part of a Comprehensive Benefits Package for Law Enforcement
Get PDFLaw enforcement agencies face many challenges. Some of these are the recruiting of new officers, the retention of their current workforce, and the professional development of their officers. Agencies are constantly looking for ways to be more attractive to officers and mitigate the burnout associated with stress. They also must find time to provide continuing education to their officers to keep them abreast of new laws, policies, and best practices. Most law enforcement agencies offer a benefits package to their employees to include vacation, holidays, sick leave, etc. These benefits packages are fairly standard and do not do much to make the agency more attractive or mitigate the stresses of police work. One benefit law enforcement agencies tend to overlook is that of sabbaticals. Universities and private businesses have long been using sabbaticals as a benefit to their employees. Law enforcement agencies should follow suit and add sabbaticals as part of their comprehensive benefits package. Sabbaticals in academic and corporate settings have shown to be useful in recruiting, offering employees a mental respite from the job, and allowing employees to develop themselves professionally. Law enforcement agencies who follow the example of universities and businesses offering sabbaticals will likely find the same successes.LEMI
Assessing the Feasibility of Portable Solar Charging Systems for Electric Vehicles: A Sustainable Approach to Alleviate Grid Load
Get PDFThe global rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption is creating significant challenges for existing electricity grids, particularly during peak charging periods. Integrating renewable energy sources, such as portable solar charging systems, offers a promising solution. This research assesses the feasibility of portable solar charging systems for EVs, focusing on solar panel efficiency, energy consumption, and cost analysis. Our findings reveal that although advancements in solar technology have significantly improved efficiency, the current portable solar technology, exemplified by a 200W solar blanket, cannot fully meet the energy demand of EVs on campus. Nonetheless, future improvements in solar efficiency and economies of scale could enhance feasibility. A case study of Houston, Texas, and surrounding counties highlights the rapid increase in EV registrations and underscores the need for sustainable energy solutions. Sensitivity analysis indicates that factors such as capital costs, carbon pricing, and interest rates significantly impact the economic viability of solar-powered EV charging systems. By promoting solar energy integration and optimizing EV charging infrastructure, we can reduce grid dependency and enhance environmental sustainability. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of solar-powered EVs and underscores the importance of continued research and technological advancements in this field
MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES: A CRITICAL ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND INSTITUTIONAL INFLUENCES ON GOAL ORIENTATION
Get PDFThis ethnographic study aimed to understand how the educational goals of Multilingual Learners at community colleges were shaped and examine how institutions may influence goal orientation. A critical ethnographic case study was utilized, employing data triangulation through observations and interviews as data collection methods. Participants included seven multilingual learners who were enrolled at a community college English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program in the Southern region of the United States. This study sought to better understand how institutions may influence goal orientation of these learners. The study was framed through a conceptual framework of goal orientation theory and discourse theory. The four key findings of the study are: Educational Goal Alignment, Oral Communication, Intrusive Advising Support, and Student Labels. These findings are described alongside support interventions that could help multilingual learners reach their goals and simplify institutional and state policy that can label and hinder admissions processes, degree selection, and tuition costs
Hiring Military Veterans For Today’s Law Enforcement
Get PDFIn the United States, there is a need for more people wanting to be police officers. Many law enforcement agencies face challenges when it comes to addressing recruitment. IACP (2019) stated “Law enforcement agencies across the United States are struggling to recruit and hire police officers” (p. 2). To help combat the lack of police officers, law enforcement agencies should look to hiring military veterans. There are many benefits to hiring military veterans. Veterans have proven beneficial due to their training and discipline, experience in high-stress situations, teamwork, and leadership. Veterans already have a track record of completing a strenuous hiring and training process. According to Hussey (2020), “Those candidates passed the rigors of selection and screening to gain entrance into the United States Armed Forces followed by both physically and mentally challenging training resulting in a lower attrition rate during the initial phase of police training” (p. 9). Veterans are familiar with quickly adapting to new environments and protocols. These skills of adapting are crucial for policing. Having served in the military, veterans understand and respect the chain of command. Military training ensures that many veterans maintain a level of physical fitness that can be beneficial in law enforcement roles. Military personnel frequently possess similar virtues and traits as police officers (Hussey, 2020).LEMI
Comprehensive Strategies for Workplace Violence Prevention: Ensuring Safety and Compliance from a Texas Perspective
No full textThis report comprehensively examines the development and implementation of Workplace Violence Prevention Programs (WVPPs) across various sectors. It addresses the critical need to mitigate workplace violence, which ranges from verbal threats to physical assaults. The report aims to provide organizations with a structured approach to reducing risks and promoting a safe working environment
AI in Critical Infrastructure for Transportation
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the Transportation Systems Sector across the United States, with Texas at the forefront of this technological evolution. The state's robust initiatives in integrating AI within its transportation infrastructure have enhanced traffic management and reduced emissions and set a national benchmark for how technology can improve operational efficiency and resilience
Scars, Marks, and Tattoos: How Appearance Influences Rearrest and Reconviction
No full textThis thesis aims to describe the influence appearance has on rearrest and reconviction for individuals within the United States Criminal Justice system and analyze how visible scars, marks, and tattoos influence rearrest and reconviction rates. The dataset for the analysis comes from “The LoneStar Project, Texas Study of Trajectories, Associations, and Reentry” and includes information on a cohort of individuals released from prison between 2015 and 2016. This thesis examines two research questions. First, do visible scars, marks, or tattoos impact the likelihood of rearrest? Second, for those who are
rearrested, do visible scars, marks, or tattoos impact the likelihood of reconviction? Each research question is tested through chi-square analyses and binary logistic regression analyses. Results explain that visible scars, marks, or tattoos have a statistically significant relationship with rearrest likelihood