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Exploring the effectiveness of unit integrated teaching in junior high school English education
No full textA seminar paper presented to the graduate faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science – English EducationThis paper investigates Unit Integrated Teaching (UIT) as an implementation approach in English
as a subject for junior high school and its impact on students' language skills, motivation and
integrated learning effectiveness. The traditional English learning process compartmentalizes
listening, speaking, reading and writing as standalone skills, meaning that students may not be
equipped to apply the language purposefully and holistically. UIT, however, provides such
opportunities through required learning of various skills within units of themes that provide context,
understanding and opportunities for communicative application. Supported by constructivist
theory and sociocultural theory, the quasi-experiment relied on both qualitative and quantitative
data from pre- and post-tests, a survey and teacher interviews. Results suggested significant
improvements in pre- and post-test scores for listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
Furthermore, motivation, participation, and self-efficacy increases demonstrate that UIT also
encourages similar positive educational behaviors beyond just skills. Teacher implementation
feedback was largely positive regarding active engagement but indicated challenges with
assessment writing, lesson planning time and required continual professional development.
Therefore, policy implementation substantiation considerations were critical for the success of UIT
post-experimentation relative to alignment factors, teacher training, equitable access, and
technological developments. Despite anticipated improvements over the short term yet to be
studied over time with stakeholder feedback from parents and administrators, this paper concludes
that UIT is an effective, transformative approach to integrated English language learning for junior
high school students
Por el Pasillo Mentorship Literacy Project: A Case Study of Supporting Multilingual Learners in Rural Schools
No full textThis was a qualitative case study that outlined the integration of a learner-centered bilingual literacy mentorship program by positioning secondary multilingual participants as mentor leaders for elementary multilingual peers in one rural U.S. school. It highlighted place-based, multimodal methodologies rooted in train-the-trainer models that have been successfully implemented through humanitarian organizations such as the Wisconsin / Nicaragua Partners of the Americas program. This
study found that an alternative model positively impacted multilingual learners’ social-emotional development, language acquisition, and academic support through an increased sense of community, confidence, and belonging
Nostalgia for the Closet: Tender Connections in Contemporary American Adolescent Literature
No full textThis dissertation examines the tenderness and nostalgia for the closet in contemporary American adolescent literature. I build a focused timeline from approximately 2010 to 2023, selecting mainstream American texts aimed towards adolescent readers and explore the depiction of the closet throughout. For each text I explore, I analyze a moment in queer history that coincides with the time of publication in order to demonstrate the influence of that context, as well as connect the analysis to the larger intracommunity conversation between queer adults and queer adolescents. Tenderness and connection are a common thread throughout these texts, emerging from the relationship between affect, privacy, and capitalism as they connect to contemporary concerns. I argue that the nostalgia for the closet that I find throughout these texts are connected to their particular moments, and that this timeline illustrates how desires for privacy and normalcy result in the closet being depicted as a space of safety and connection rather than a space of shame or confinement
Generalized Linear Model approach to the Prediction of the outcome of Mixed Martial Arts Fights
No full textMixed martial arts is a complex combat sport that encompasses striking, grappling, and submissions. In a sport where fights can be won by finishing a fight or go to decision there is a multitude of factors that can influence the outcome of a fight. In an effort to determine which factors are statistically significant to a fight a generalized linear model approach was selected. Since mixed martial arts is a sport in which two competitors fight, and one is declared a winner, the result of a fight can be thought of a binary classification problem
Pollination behavior of solitary ground-nesting bees in Wisconsin’s Driftless area and beyond
No full textSolitary ground-nesting bees offer essential services as pollinators of native plants and
crops. Despite their important ecological, agricultural, and economic contributions, there
is relatively little known about their floral relationships in the blufflands of southeastern
Minnesota and Driftless region of southwestern Wisconsin. We collected pollen
specimens from various solitary ground-nesting bee species at diverse sites, including
suburban, woodland, and prairie habitats. These samples were analyzed using highthroughput
DNA sequencing to identify plant species. The resulting dataset enabled us to
link bee species to the plant species present in their pollen loads. While there was no
statistically significant difference in pollen composition among bees from developed and
natural areas, Andrena sp. carried distinct plant species at a woodland-surrounded park
when compared to suburban lawns. Furthermore, all species were found carrying pollen
from multiple plant species. This study provides foundational knowledge that will help
future monitoring and conservation efforts
Enhancing Safety in the Construction Workforce: A Comparative Study of Hands-On and Virtual Reality (VR) Training Methods
No full textDissertationThe construction industry consistently ranks among the most dangerous occupational sectors in
the United States, with specifically pipeline construction presenting heightened risks due to
confined spaces, hazardous materials, and heavy machinery. This study compares traditional
hands-on training with immersive virtual reality (VR) technology in response to the need for
safer and more effective training methods. Through a true experimental design, the research
evaluates knowledge retention, behavioral change, and learner perceptions by analyzing pre- and
post-training assessments and survey responses from randomly assigned pipeline construction
employees. Both training approaches yielded measurable improvements; however, hands-on
training was associated with greater knowledge retention, while VR demonstrated stronger
behavioral outcomes and higher participant satisfaction. Although statistical significance was not
achieved, primarily due to a limited sample size, the practical differences suggest meaningful
potential for integrating VR into future training strategies. The study concludes by
recommending further exploration of hybrid training models that incorporate VR and hands-on
training, aiming to provide a cost-effective, performance-driven training solution that reduces
safety-related incidents in the construction workforce
Advancing Time-Resolved Phase-Contrast MRI Analysis: Development and Application of the Input-Parameterized Physics-Informed Neural Network (IP-PINN)
No full textTime-Resolved Three-Dimensional Phase-Contrast MRI (4D Flow MRI) is a powerful non-invasive technique for quantitatively assessing cardiovascular hemodynamics. Despite its potential, the clinical application of 4D Flow MRI is constrained by coarse spatio-temporal resolution, acquisition noise, and artifacts including velocity aliasing and eddy current induced phase offsets. These limitations compromise the accuracy and reliability of hemodynamic assessments, particularly in complex vascular structures. This thesis proposes a novel deep learning-based framework called the Input-Parameterized Physics Informed Neural Network (IP-PINN) to address these challenges. By integrating advanced machine learning with the underlying physics of blood flow, the IP-PINN framework enhances low-resolution 4D Flow MRI data, attenuates acquisition noise, and mitigates velocity aliasing and phase offset artifacts. The framework leverages a ResNet-based convolutional neural network to encode input data into a latent vector, which is then utilized by a feedforward neural network to produce a continuous spatio-temporal representation of the variables of interest. The IP-PINN’s unique ability to generalize across different datasets by parameterizing the solution with respect to the input velocity-encoded images significantly reduces the need for time-intensive retraining. The IP-PINN does not require ground-truth lables and pre-training with either real low resolution image data or synthetic data from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations enhances the framework's applicability. The IP-PINN preserves the continuous spatio-temporal representation and the ability to generate truncation error-free derivatives characteristic of PINNs, while significantly expediting processing time. Benchmark tests against simulated datasets demonstrate that IP-PINN is over an order of magnitude faster than traditional PINNs, achieving superior accuracy. Additionally, the method generates high-resolution magnitude images for lumen boundary segmentation, relying solely on velocity-encoded scans and negating the need for reference scans. Building on an initial implementation that operated in complex image space and relied on the three velocity-encoded scans, the thesis extends IP-PINNs in two directions. First, reconstruction of three-component, three-dimensional (3D-3C) velocity fields and high-resolution spin-density maps in the vicinity of the imaging plane using data from minimally altered 2D PC-MRI sequence. Second, reconstruction of 3D-3C velocity maps and spin-denisty maps from a pseudo one-point 4D-Flow MRI sequence, that acquires only one velocity-encoded dataset per slice, reducing the raw data burden by 75%. For this extremely sparse regime, the data-fidelity term is reformulated directly in k-space, which preserves the exact acquisition physics, avoids the convolution blurring inherent in image-space. With a dramatically reduced execution time of approximately two minutes, operating on undersampled acquired data, and simplified operational requirements (no need for specifying geometry and boundary conditions), the IP-PINN promises to advance the state-of-the-art in hemodynamic assessment, offering a robust and efficient solution for enhancing time-resoleved PCMRI data, with significant implications for both clinical practice and cardiovascular research
Subaquatic Bus Stop
No full textColor poster with text, and photographs.We aimed to increase awareness of the local flora and fauna that many people may not be aware of that live in the Chippewa River. We decided to create glass mosaics to adorn the windows of the bus stop in front of Haas Fine Arts Center as it is an accessible location for many people passing through Water Street. We used glass for its translucent properties, durability, and longevity to ensure that no harm would be brought to the local environment through use of toxic materials and to make sure it will last for years to come with little need for maintenance. The various colors of the glass pieces and the location result in the appearance changing throughout the day and seasons as the available light differs, keeping it intriguing for and visible for both visitors and the bus drivers they are waiting for. Our project resulted in a beautiful piece of art that succeeds in showcasing many local endangered fish and demonstrating the talents of graduates from the art program. The location nearby the river may also tempt curious minds to see if they can spot any of the creatures themselves.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program
FACTORS IMPACTING ACUTE CARE NURSES’ INTENTIONS TO LEAVE THEIR POSITIONS: POST COVID-19 ERA
No full textBackground: The nursing profession is currently experiencing an acute workforce shortage, with turnover rates reaching critical levels. In the light of this fragility, this study aimed to examine factors influencing turnover intentions among U.S hospital nurses in the post-pandemic era. Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional design was implemented using a national convenience sample of nurses (n=406) who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic and currently work in an acute care setting. Instruments included the Moral Injury Event Scale (MIES), the Hospital Ethical Climate Scale (HECS), the Satisfaction of Employees in Health Care (SEHC), and the Roodt's Turnover Intention scale (TIS). To fully understand nurses’ experiences, open-ended questions were inserted to allow nurses to share their experiences and recommendations for organizational support strategies to enhance their intent to stay. Data were analyzed using correlation, multiple regression, hierarchical regression, and content analysis. Results: Findings revealed high levels of exposure to morally injurious events (M = 30.5, SD = 12.5) and a strong desire to leave current positions (M = 20.12, SD = 5.4). Turnover intention was negatively correlated with job satisfaction and perceptions of the ethical climate. Moral injury (MI) was positively correlated with turnover intentions and negatively correlated with job satisfaction and the ethical climate. Further analysis showed the job satisfaction and ethical climate fully mediated the relationship between MI and turnover intentions. Content analysis of qualitative responses identified four key themes: 1) Feeling unsupported/overworked, 2) Inadequate organizational preparedness/resources during the pandemic, 3) Reasons for remaining in role, and 4) Desired forms of organizational support. Conclusion: The study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to retain nurses in the workforce. Enhancing job satisfaction and fostering a positive ethical climate may significantly reduce turnover intentions. Further research should investigate additional mediating factors, such as post-traumatic growth, to better understand and address nurse retention.2027-08-2
Interaction of an Idealized Cyclone With a Wavy Midlatitude Jet
No full textNumerical weather prediction model forecasts of the Rossby wave packets (RWP) initiated from the interaction of a tropical cyclone and a midlatitude jet stream are often characterized by decreased accuracy and lowered forecast skill. Factors influencing the level of interaction between a tropical cyclone (TC) and a midlatitude jet depend on the size, strength, and location of the TC relative to the jet, along with the meridional extent, wave pattern, and speed of the jet, especially when interacting with an upstream trough. This study uses a bare- bones (quasi-geostrophic) model to simulate and analyze the evolution of RWPs originating from the interaction of an idealized, constant-shape TC with a prescribed stationary wave pattern in a mid-latitude jet. The goal of this study is to map out the sensitivity of the TC’s downstream impacts on the jet to the TC’s initial position, the width and the degree of initial waviness of the jet, as well as the relative strength of the jet and the TC. Our model setup is based on earlier idealized studies of interactions of the midlatitude jet with topography which offer an explanation of the nonlinear dynamics behind zonal and blocked mid-latitude flow regimes. The TC is to be included in the overall system as a singular vortex (SV), which provides unambiguous separation of the vortex field from the ambient field and the separation between the background flow and RWPs generated by the SV, with RWPs created from this interaction leading both to the SV’s self-propagation and to the downstream perturbations of the jet