28266 research outputs found
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Exploring Popular History and its Constructors: An Analysis of Goodreads and LibraryThing User Data
Get PDFUsing data from Goodreads and LibraryThing to find widely read popular history books, this research discovered a significant subject and author gap in what is being read by the general public. 152 books were found to be widely reviewed on these websites with the greater majority of books being on Traditional History topics which are typically about “Great Men,” war, or well-known historical events. Of 101 authors, only eighteen were women and five were BIPOC. This shows a gap in what the public is learning. Librarians and other stakeholders should consider how they can help bridge this gap
WorkforceTowards the Establishment of a Workforce Development College in Liberia
Get PDFThe call for establishing a workforce development college in Liberia is a growing necessity that cannot be ignored or overlooked. The call is growing louder. This article seeks to contribute to the discourse by proposing concrete justification for achieving such a worthy endeavor. A workforce education deficiency highlights a long-standing gap in the workforce sector that needs to be addressed sustainably. Workforce education provides several advantages for enhancing essential workforce skills and competencies. It lays the basis for collaboration among stakeholders. Despite its advantages, the process of establishing a workforce development college is marked by challenges. Some of these include the need for adequate financial resources and attracting the most proficient and competent staff to manage the implementation and delivery of services. Several key steps are necessary to follow if setting up a workforce development college is to be achieved. The initiative must start with a comprehensive needs assessment, followed by the appropriate syllabus, identification of appropriate infrastructure, and the pursuit of high-quality training for the college staff and provision of the required financial resources. The article concludes with advocacy for creating a workforce development college to close the gap created by the lack of such an important institution
Exploring the Spatial-Reasoning Skills of Middle School Students in Design-Based Integrated-STEM Activities
No full textDesign-Based Learning facilitates inter-disciplinary explorations in STEM education, providing rich opportunities to foster design thinking and 21st-century skills such as creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. However, in traditional math learning, such active-learning pedagogies are scarcely encouraged. The purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study is to investigate spatial-reasoning skills of rural middle school students as they engage in design-based integrated-STEM activities. The study is conceptualized within the theoretical paradigms of Social Constructivism, Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), and Design Thinking. Spatial reasoning was selected because of its pervasive influence across all STEM fields. Data sources in the study include the spatial-reasoning worksheets, in-class observations, audio-visual screen recordings, design journals, semi-structured interviews, and 3D-printed design artifacts. Through purposive sampling, eight middle school students enrolled in an after-school STEM program participated in this study. Within-case and cross-case analyses yielded three interrelated themes: (1) Theme One: Design-based spatial engagement is multifaceted involving the individual, the activities, and the community, (2) Theme Two: Design-based spatial comprehension is demonstrated through multimodal and embodied mathematical cognition within two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces, (3) Theme Three: Students use the maker community feedback, online resources, and 3D models for problem-solving in design-based spatial activities. Findings of this study have meaningful implications for structuring and scaffolding design-based pedagogies in STEM teacher education programs and for the professional development of classroom teachers. Limitations and recommendations for future research are also described
DENSITY ESTIMATES, INTERACTIONS, AND HABITAT USE OF TWO ENDEMIC ENDANGERED RODENTS IN RESPONSE TO INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE FLORIDA KEYS, USA
No full textIn the Florida Keys, where invasive species continue to expand, understanding population trends for endemic species is vital for determining their status and ensuring effective conservation strategies. The Burmese python (Python bivittatus), a large constrictor snake native to Southeast Asia, is one of Florida\u27s most notable invasive predators. Since 2016, an established population of Burmese pythons has increased in prevalence across Key Largo, Florida, USA, posing a significant threat to native wildlife. In 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall as a Category 4 storm, inducing flooding and extensive canopy damage. The Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli) and Key Largo cotton mouse (Neotoma floridana smalli) are two endangered rodent subspecies, endemic to Key Largo that have struggled to maintain stable populations in the face of these obstacles. Here, I investigated how Hurricane Irma and invasive species impacted the Key Largo woodrat and Key Largo cotton mouse populations and their potential interactions. I used spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) to analyze live-trapping data from across North Key Largo, 2017 to 2024, with data collected from 2017 prior to Hurricane Irma and during the pythons\u27 increasing prevalence. Woodrat density declined following Hurricane Irma, coinciding with increased detections of pythons, decreasing from 3.48 (SD = 0.50) to 0.61 (SD = 0.20) individuals/ha in 2017 to 2024, respectively. Furthermore, cotton mouse density increased from 1.57 (SD = 0.28) individuals/ha in 2017 to 5.35 (SD = 0.57) in 2024. My findings illustrate the contrasting responses of two native species to large-scale natural disturbance and emphasize the Key Largo woodrat’s potential risk of extinction as global change continues to impact South Florida ecosystems. Following the density trends of cotton mice and woodrats between 2017 to 2024, I sought to examine a possible interaction between the local abundance of woodrats and cotton mice and differences in habitat use. Using hierarchical N-mixture co-abundance models, I developed three competing models testing no, constant, and varying effects of woodrats on cotton mice as well as examining environmental drivers that may influence population variation and the effect of invasive black rats (Rattus rattus). I found no interactive effect of woodrats on cotton mice with regression coefficients that had 95% credible intervals spanning zero, suggesting coexistence with no competitive suppression. In contrast, invasive black rats had a significant negative effect on cotton mice, but did not impact woodrats. Habitat association differed between species as woodrats were positively associated with young forests, while cotton mice responded positively to young, medium, and legacy forest age classes, indicating a broader habitat preference than previously noted. Both cotton mice and woodrats exhibited a positive response with increasing distance to major development, likely reflecting the negative impact of habitat degradation and increasing pressure from invasive species near urban borders. Together, these results further our knowledge on the interactions and habitat use of woodrats and cotton mice, and provide density estimates that enable managers to assess both species’ current population status. This research can be used to inform future management strategies that promote species persistence as invasive species continue to shape Key Largo’s landscape
EXAMINING ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN INTERNALIZED RACISM, PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY, AND WELL-BEING AMONG BIPOC
No full textInternalized racism has been defined as the adoption of negative stereotypes related to one’s racial/ethnic group and associated with psychological distress. There is little research on the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on diverse populations, but recent intervention studies have indicated that psychological flexibility may counter the negative psychological effects of self-stigma. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between internalized racism, psychological flexibility, and psychological distress and life satisfaction among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Self-report data was collected using Qualtrics with prospective participants recruited from a large public university in the Midwest and MTurk. PROCESS macro in SPSS was used to examine how internalized racism, psychological flexibility, and a two-way interaction between internalized racism and psychological flexibility explain variance in psychological outcomes. Results showed a main effect for internalized racism on psychological distress, and psychological flexibility moderated this association. However, the direction of this moderation countered the hypothesized prediction. Additionally, there was no association between internalized racism and life satisfaction. This study explored possible explanations for these mixed results, including a discussion of limitations, implications, and directions for future research
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORK ON CYBER-ARGUMENTATION
No full textArgumentation is one of the basic activities people perform in our society. People often spend a lot of time arguing about social, cultural, economic, financial, political, and other issues. Existing cyber-argumentation platforms facilitate large-scale discussions among participants and play an important role in the analysis of collective opinions and collective decision-making. However, they do not provide social networking capabilities and are not designed to be used in social networking environments. Social networks in argumentation platforms can reveal the patterns, shifts, and true relationships between the users in a discourse that influence the collective decision-making process, outlier opinions and so on. To this end, this research seek to address 1) Create a prototype of mobile application integrating social networking capabilities into cyber-argumentation platforms. 2) Assess the impact of social networks on the formation and evolution of collective opinion in argumentation. 3) Assess the impact of social networks on the formation of outlier opinions in argumentation by retrospective analysis. The proposed models and algorithm have been implemented within our intelligent cyber-argumentation system with social networking. These models were evaluated using empirical argumentation data and simulated social networking data. The empirical evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness of these proposed models and algorithms in cyber-argumentation with social networking
Preparing the Next Generation of Water Professionals in New York State: A Review of Educational Programs and Models by the New York State Water Resources Institute
Get PDFCareers in water are critical for sustainable management of this important resource. However, the water sector is facing workforce challenges like skill gaps, aging professionals, and lack of diversity. The New York State Water Resources Institute (NYSWRI) at Cornell University is hoping to address these issues through interdisciplinary and tiered educational models that integrate academic learning about water resources with real-world applications. This article highlights NYSWRI’s approaches, including K-12 engagement in partnership with state agencies, university-level training through internships and coursework, and professional development via continuing education, with an emphasis on hands-on research, field experiences, and community collaboration. Despite challenges like the need for consistent evaluation and broader engagement, NYSWRI’s educational practices can serve as a starting point for knowledge exchange between water resource research institutes (WRRIs) across the U.S. This article aims to provide models for similar institutions to enhance education and training for workforce development in the realm of water management
