University of Illinois at Chicago
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Understanding Adult English as an Additional Language (EAL) Learners’ Perception of CALL on EAL Learning
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the adult immigrant English as an
Additional Language (EAL) learners’ perception of the use of Computer Assisted Language
Learning (CALL) tools in an adult education program at a community college in the south
suburbs of Chicago. The research topic stems from three main areas: the increase in the number
of adult immigrants in the United States over the past few years, the need to understand learner’s
perceptions regarding digital literacy in adult education programs, and the need to explore the
perceptions of adult language learners to make appropriate decisions regarding the quality of
English language programs offered for EAL learners. There has been numerous research
published in the field of CALL. However, minimal research was conducted to understand the
perception of underrepresented groups of adult learners, who immigrate from the Middle East
and North Africa (MENA) region, in regard to CALL and their readiness and level of comfort
when it comes to digital literacy and utilization of CALL tools in their language learning
journey.
The participants were recruited through purposeful sampling from three EAL proficiency
levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The researcher focused on immigrants who speak
Arabic as their first language (L1). Therefore, only students with Arabic as their L1 were
recruited. The data was collected through interviews, class observations, and questionnaires.
Then, the data was analyzed by using the six principles of andragogy as the main analysis
framework. The findings of this research reveal that learners across all proficiency levels hold a
positive perception towards CALL tools for various reasons including the accessibility of CALL
tools, the ease of use for CALL tools, and the ability to personalize the content through CALL
tools to meet learners’ individual needs. However, the findings also reflect the importance of
taking certain measures by decision-makers and educators to ensure that CALL tools remain an
asset to the curriculum rather than a substitute. The study adds to the current body of literature by
providing a voice that reflects the perceptions of an underrepresented group of learners on CALL
tools, which are becoming an integral part of every classroom. A further discussion of limitations
and implications is also provided for researchers and practitioners in the field of EAL to consider
when designing curriculum for EAL adult learners, ultimately guiding more effective, inclusive, and impactful educational practices
Essays on the Diffusion of Budget Stabilization Funds in the United States
No full textThis dissertation employs a three-essay format to study the diffusion of budget stabilization funds (BSFs) in the United States. Using an event history analysis approach, the first study examines the diffusion mechanism for BSFs. The second study conducts a text analysis to explore BSFs’ potential reinvention over time. Finally, the third study hypothesizes a federal-level BSF and provides a policy simulation to justify its fiscal feasibility. Overall, the three studies describe the diffusion of BSFs across states over eight decades by exploring their diffusion mechanism and presenting patterns in important BSF policy dimensions. In addition, the dissertation disseminates a robust dataset that can be used to advance future research on BSFs both quantitatively and qualitatively
Race and Ability in Teachers' Collective Framing of Learning and Learners in an Arts Integration Context
No full textIn U.S. society, the concept of race has been co-constructed with the concept of ability (Connor & Ferri, 2013) and used, at every level of education, to frame different racialized groups of children as differently abled. Inequitable curricular opportunities have subsequently been afforded to these different groups, thus maintaining the racialized power structure of U.S. society. This curricular disparity occurs across broad processes of policy-making and national educational discourse as well as minute processes of person-to-person interaction. Each of these processes and the decisions made within them are threaded with ideological underpinnings that discursively connect the processes across multifaceted levels of interaction.
This qualitative study engaged frame analysis methods along with Philip’s (2011) ideology in pieces methods to examine racial-ability ideologies in educators’ collaborative curricular decision-making in an arts integration context in which the researcher was a participant-observer. Findings from observations of teacher teams in collaborative planning workshops and interviews with teachers revealed framing processes in which participants positioned themselves closer to and further from racial-ability ideologies common in society – ideologies related to color-evasiveness, race-consciousness, teacher autonomy, and musical talent and exclusivity. As participants deliberated over curriculum, pieces of these societal racial-ability ideologies worked their way into discourse and impacted the curricular possibilities that teachers were able to develop for their racialized students. These findings point to the need for teacher education and professional development programs to incorporate opportunities for educators to work toward developing awareness of the racial-ability ideologies that influence their curricular decision-making
Multi-media Health Risk Assessment for Southeast Chicago Residents Using Environmental Monitoring Data
No full textIn 2017-2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected and analyzed air and soil samples for heavy metal content in the East Side neighborhood of Chicago. The data was made publicly available, and air monitoring continued until 2023. The collection was in response to residents’ concern of elevated manganese and lead in soil due to emissions from a nearby bulk materials storage and processing facility. As a health risk assessment had not been performed with this data, a human health risk assessment for heavy metal exposure to residents near this facility was completed. The assessment was performed following EPA methods, consisting of four steps: hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. The EPA’s Pro-UCL software was used to calculate exposure point concentrations derived from the dataset.
Findings indicated elevated non-cancer risk for residents of all ages primarily from inhalation of manganese and elevated cancer risk for children aged 2-6 years due to incidental ingestion of arsenic from soil. The elevated estimated risk levels demonstrate the need for further study to determine if interventions such as environmental restoration and air quality management are needed to reduce risk in this community
An Investigation of Black Caregivers’ Responses to Their Children During Hair Routines
No full textBlack children face hair discrimination and bias in schools for wearing their hair in its natural state and in protective styles (Essien & Wood, 2021; Joseph-Salisbury & Connelly, 2018; Hussett-Richardson, 2023). Hair discrimination and bias can cause Black children to be disengaged from school, feel insecure, and dislike their hair (Oney et al., 2011, Woolford et al., 2016; O-Brien-Richardson, 2019). Although hair discrimination and bias can have negative effects on Black children, hair routines can act as a protective factor and allow children to flourish despite experiencing discrimination (Ferretti & Bub, 2017). Therefore, this study investigated how caregivers responded to their children during hair routines. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers and children, separately. Additionally, some hair routines were observed virtually while others were pre-recorded. The analysis showed that there were 8 ways that caregivers responded to their children: 1) Adjusting routines, 2) Continuing conversations, 3) Apologizing, 4) Ignoring, 5) Honoring children’s choices, 6) Offering Breaks, 7) Checking In, and 8) Bringing in other family members. It is concluded that hair routines are a viable context for understanding the relationship between Black caregivers and their children. The results are analyzed and discussed in regard to implications for creating more culturally affirming learning environments for Black students
Luchas Migrantes en Tiempos Pandémicos y de Crisis Una Mirada Desde Las Américas
No full textNo description supplied</p
Joint-level kinematic patterns during walking with wearable sensors - study data
No full textPurpose: After stroke, walking is characterized by hemiparetic patterns, quantified with force sensitive walkways and motion capture systems. Some joint-level kinematic patterns of walking also can be obtained with wearable sensors. The purpose of this project was to measure joint-level kinematic patterns during walking with wearable sensors and determine the association with walking speed and endurance in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, participants donned APDM Opal wearable sensors during walking tests (10-meter walk test or 6-minute walk test). We extracted joint-level kinematic variables of elevation at midswing, circumduction, foot strike angle, and toe off angle. Associations of each variable with walking speed and endurance were tested, and significantly associated variables were entered into a regression model. Results: 68 individuals with chronic stroke were included. We found that the less affected foot strike angle, less affected toe off angle, and more affected toe off angle were significant predictors of walking speed (R2≥0.71, pData related to publication: Cleland, B.T., Kim, M. & Madhavan, S. The Relation Between Hemiparetic Gait Patterns and Walking Function After Stroke, as Measured with Wearable Sensors. Ann Biomed Eng (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-025-03754-7 </p
Development of a Comprehensive Agriculture Injury and Illness System in Illinois, USA
No full textThis research poster from the 34th International Congress on Occupational Health provides an overview and preliminary data from a project to develop a surveillance program for work-related illnesses and injuries (WRIIs) in Illinois agriculture.</p
Factors affecting childhood immunization across communities in Sokoto State, Nigeria, and recommendations to improve vaccine uptake
No full textBackground: Immunization continues to be one of the most effective and affordable public health interventions across the globe. Immunization initiatives have saved approximately 154 million lives over the past 50 years, the equivalent to 6 lives every minute of year-round with more than 101 million of those lives being infants (WHO, 2024). However, despite the effectiveness of this life-saving intervention, deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) remain very high in Africa with an estimated half a million children dying from VPDs every year, representing approximately 58% of global VPD-related deaths. Globally, more than 22.7 million children estimated to be zero-dose children, of which an estimated 3.1 million (~14%) reside in Nigeria (WHO, 2024) with most in the northern part of the country, particularly the northwestern states of Sokoto state (Gavi, 2023).Methods: Data were collected through document review, informal interviews, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs) and MAXQDA was used to analyze the data. A comprehensive search of childhood immunization documents from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency site as well as sites from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sites, World Health Organization, and UNICEF. Informal interviews were conducted with national level health care experts, KIIs with state, local government area (LGA), and community level health care workers, and community leaders, and FGDs with care givers in 8 communities across 4 LGAs. Participants were purposively selected to capture their perspectives on the challenges faced in increasing the demand for childhood immunization services in the state and recommendations for improving uptake.Results: Thematic analysis identified factors such as incentives, community engagement, care givers knowledge and awareness about the value of immunization, and engagement of fathers as some of the biggest factors influencing childhood immunization in Sokoto state. Factors like insecurity had limited impact on childhood immunization. Themes such as addressing felt needs, continuous education, and trusted expertise were identified across the different data sources.Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for state-specific interventions that improve childhood immunization across Sokoto state. Tailored approaches that consider the socio-economic and cultural context of the state will be critical in increasing the demand for and uptake of childhood immunization across communities in the state.</p
<b>Understanding Facilitators and Barriers of Community Health Worker (CHW) Adoption, Integration and Sustainability Within and Across Organizations Participating in the One Lawndale Community Health Collective</b>
No full textDespite decades of concentrated investment into the reduction and elimination of health disparities in the United States, they persist. Community Health Workers (CHWs), who are trusted members of the communities they serve, can be effective bridges of trust into minoritized and disinvested communities and thus have the potential to impact health inequities if appropriately implemented. CHW interventions have been shown effective in improving chronic disease prevention and management, addressing social determinants of health, navigating systems, and connecting organizations to the communities they serve. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and transition to value-based care provides healthcare systems and payers with a business case for integrating CHWs into interdisciplinary teams. The implementation of the ACA, along with the need to quickly leverage a local workforce of trusted members in the COVID-19 response, federal investments towards the COVID-19 emergency, passing of legislation in Illinois opening the door to Medicaid reimbursement for CHWs, and multimillion-dollar investments in Illinois by Medicaid towards healthcare transformation collaboratives (many of which engage CHWs), have led to the rapid expansion of the workforce. However, to be effective, CHWs need to be employed by organizations that are ready for them, trained effectively, be networked to other CHWs and/or organizations, and have opportunities for growth. As the public health emergency officially ended in May 2023, many organizations are grappling with how best to transition CHWs to longer-term public health challenges, and with building the infrastructure needed to fully integrate and sustain CHWs. Enhancing understanding of which organizational, community, and system-level characteristics facilitate and impede CHW uptake, integration, and sustainability, and how those align and differ by organization type, can support more effective CHW implementation towards health equity.The One Lawndale Community Health Collective (OLCHC) is a community-specific co-development approach towards enhancing adoption, integration, and sustainability of CHWs within organizations serving Lawndale, a predominantly non-Hispanic Black and Latinx, over-burdened and under-resourced west side Chicago community. The initiative aims to improve networking and coordination of CHWs and the organizations that employ them towards efficiency and collective impact. The OLCHC therefore offered a single significant case within which to assess the phenomenon of interest in a community system, particularly the impact of organizational factors, community factors, partnership, and capacity-building investments on enhancing integration and sustainability of CHWs within and across organizations serving the Lawndale community. Via a three-phased qualitative multi-method single case study with nested cases, the research: (1) assessed the current state of CHW adoption, integration, and sustainability within and across organizations serving Chicago’s Lawndale Community; (2) sought to understand enabling factors both internal and external to organizations in supporting CHW adoption, integration, and sustainability; (3) considered how collaboratives, such as the OLCHC, might inform the future state of CHW adoption, integration, and sustainability including the capacity-building investments and community enabling environment important to optimizing workforce impact.</p
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