California State University, Monterey Bay
Digital Commons @ CSUMB (California State University, Monterey Bay)Not a member yet
11976 research outputs found
Sort by
Impact of Afterschool Programs on Students; Social Development and Emotional Learning
Full text linkAfterschool programs are described as activities that are organized and structured outside of the regular school day where there is a time where there is no academic pressure and, therefore, is a time with the potential to enhance social-emotional skills development and learning. The capacity to genuinely implement social emotional learning (SEL) programs that are hindered by difficulties in staff training and turnover, in addition to funding. This senior capstone project explores the impact of afterschool programs on students\u27 social and emotional learning at a Monterey Bay charter school, especially in their ability to impact peer and teacher relationships, ultimately increasing a sense of belonging. The research will comprehensively investigate the factors that influence students\u27 social development through a detailed review of literature, parent surveys, and interviews with the executive leadership and leaders of the afterschool programs. The result findings indicated that afterschool program activities positively affect the relationship skills among students, particularly between older and younger students. However, conflict resolution skills are needed in order for their social emotional development to take place
Promoting Safety and Sustainability: A Community-based Approach to Road Safety
Full text linkPedestrian and cyclist injuries remain a public health concern in Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, where low safety awareness and infrastructure gaps contribute to preventable collisions. This capstone project, in partnership with Ecology Action’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and Modo Active Transportation programs, assessed the impact of community-based education on road safety awareness and behavior. Using convenience sampling, two tailored surveys were distributed at farmers\u27 markets and tabling events in February–March 2025. Over 800 individuals were engaged, and 113 surveys were completed. Results showed that 75% of Bay View Elementary participants increased active transportation and felt more confident in safety practices. Among general respondents, 80% were very aware of pedestrian right-of-way laws, and 58.1% of drivers always yielded to pedestrians or cyclists. The project met its goals and suggests expanding outreach, increasing school partnerships, and using community feedback for infrastructure advocacy. Findings support future efforts to promote safer, more active transportation
Addressing Housing Insecurity in Pacific Grove: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Affordable Housing Resources
Full text linkThe City of Pacific Grove is a beautiful coastal place to live, yet it is difficult to find affordable housing. The housing division works together with other departments in the city and state to carry out its goal of ensuring that residents have access to affordable housing. In previous community housing needs surveys 60% of respondents reported an interest in building an Accessory Dwelling Unit. Similarly, 50% respondents showed an interest in landlord incentive workshops. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess the effectiveness of these two key resources. A study was conducted through in-depth interviews with specialists in the planning department and Housing Resource Center in regard to the opportunities and barriers of building an accessory dwelling unit or providing landlord incentives. The expected outcome is to increase collaboration between homeowners, city, and developers, creating a more engaged community that addresses housing insecurity. The results revealed that building ADU’s in Pacific Grove has the potential to provide relief to housing insecurities of residents. Similarly, the landlord incentive program can help alleviate some financial strain by providing landlords with guaranteed rent payments for tenants with special needs. Recommendations include updating workshops, websites, and introducing handbooks (digital and printed) to support collaboration with the ADU project. Also, providing property owners with resources about landlord incentives and a comprehensive process of building an ADU that includes average costs and a timeline will contribute to addressing affordable housing and keeping residents informed about these valuable resources
Teaching to Belong: Embracing Latino Culture in the Classroom
Full text linkElementary school curriculum often lacks content on diversity in the classroom. Children who are not taught about diversity can develop limited understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds. The lack of diversity in education may have negative effects including children feeling unwelcome and unrepresented in the curriculum. Introducing children to diversity in the curriculum can promote inclusivity and compassion towards each other. In order to address the lack of diversity in the curriculum, I created a three-day lesson for third graders at Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary School in Salinas, California
Impacts of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy on College Students\u27 Self-Esteem and Mental Health
Full text linkThe purpose of this senior capstone research project is to examine the potential impacts of culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) on the self-esteem and mental health of college students. CRP is an approach which connects students’ cultures, experiences, and identities to what is taught in the classroom. Through the use of literature review and anonymous surveys to college students, faculty, and professors, the results suggest that students indeed benefit from the caring relationships which CRP creates at the university level. By assessing the methods of CRP implementation within higher education, this senior capstone also evaluates how educators could optimize their students’ learning when implementing this pedagogy in the classroom. Further research is needed to ascertain how the approach impacts college students’ self-esteem and mental health on a broader scale
Developing Self-regulation Skills in Early Childhood
Full text linkSome elementary-school-age children have not yet developed emotional self-regulation skills. When children have trouble with self-regulation, they have challenges focusing, retaining information, and socializing, which can result in poor academic performance and poor social skills. When children learn emotional self-regulation skills, children can gain emotional intelligence which helps them to recognize, understand, and manage their own emotions. To address this issue, I created a three-day lesson for students in a kindergarten classroom at Sherwood Elementary in Salinas, California
Assembly and Field Testing of a Shallow-Water Multibeam System for High-Frequency, High-Resolution Bathymetric Surveys: A Case Study at Monterey Canyon Head
Full text linkThe coastal environment is a dynamic and complex system constantly in flux. A comprehensive understanding of the nearshore system is crucial for habitat management, modeling coastal hazards, as well as managing economic resources. Studying nearshore bathymetric environments through mapping has traditionally been challenging due to high surveying costs and adverse environmental conditions. The Monterey Canyon Head offshore of Moss Landing, California exemplifies a complex nearshore feature with significant impacts on the local environment. Previous studies have identified the canyon head as the primary sand sink for two littoral cells: the Santa Cruz and Southern Monterey Bay cells. Nevertheless, the spatial and temporal trends of sediment accretion and erosion in the canyon head remain poorly understood. To address this, a cost-effective multibeam system for high-resolution mapping of complex seafloor topography in shallow water has been assembled, enabling high-frequency repeat mapping of the canyon head. Preliminary testing demonstrates that the system is capable of mapping seafloor features at 1 m resolution at depths up to 60 m, with increasingly finer resolutions achievable at shallower depths. Tests conducted at the canyon head showed repeatable mapping surveys with a 95% confidence interval of 20 cm between back-to-back surveys. The greatest differences were observed on steep (\u3e50°) canyon walls and in deeper water (\u3e 35 m). A total of seven test surveys were completed between October 2021 and January 2022 resulting in an average survey frequency of twice per month. Comparison maps of these surveys reveal a complex sedimentary cycle characterized by frequent sediment deposition, movement, and failure in the northern tributaries of the canyon head, and minor deposition and bedform migration in the southern tributaries
The strength of weak ties in shaping attitudes toward interfaith marriage: Muslim migrants in Western Europe
No full textThis study examines the “strength of weak ties” argument in the formation of interfaith marriage attitudes. Based on the EURISLAM survey data collected from Muslim migrants residing in six Western European countries, the analyses suggest that both strong and weak ties with natives are positively associated with the likelihood of interfaith marriage approval. However, strong and weak ties are not equally influential when they interact with each other. The results reveal a paradox: the positive effect of strong ties becomes more pronounced only when accompanied by weak ties. In the absence of weak ties, an increase in strong ties is associated with a decrease in interfaith marriage approval, which highlights the significance of tie composition in shaping attitudes toward interfaith marriage and supports the “strength of weak ties” argument. Finally, ties are context-dependent function of network composition, individual characteristics, and the countries where migrants settle