20566 research outputs found
Sort by
Researching the Perceptions of Arkansas 4th and 5th Graders on the Origins of Food
No full textResearch suggests that 4th- and 5th- grade students are potentially ill-informed about general agricultural knowledge nationwide due to a growing gap between agriculture and the general population, including young students. As such, and with the help of an Honor’s College grant, students were surveyed at both rural and urban schools across Arkansas to assess how much they knew about where their food comes from and to determine whether they connected it back to agriculture. Additionally, students were asked to draw a picture of a farm to capture what farming means to them. A short presentation about general agricultural knowledge, following a seed of corn to the consumer plate, was used to assess its effectiveness in increasing awareness and interest in the agri-food system. Pre- and post-presentation responses were then analyzed for differences among students by i) grade level; ii) rural vs. urban elementary setting; and iii) whether or not the student had taken an Arkansas history class. The presentation effectively increased knowledge across all categories of questions. The presentation was also effective in generating career interest in agriculture and increased awareness of the connection between agriculture and food. The differences between rural and urban settings and by age highlight the importance of tailored educational experiences and strategies that could inform future curriculum development. Targeting students early on is one suggestion. Providing more real-life visuals in a presentation to urban students may also be more effective. As such, using information collected in this survey, we have gained insight into how to target educational materials about agriculture to appropriate audiences
Identifying Best Practices in Small Business Meetings: An Importance-Performance Gap Analysis
No full textMeetings are crucial for small businesses, yet many struggle to plan them effectively due to limited resources. This study examines the gap between the perceived importance and actual performance of 14 meeting planning attributes in small businesses. Through an online survey and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), the study finds that attributes such as setting SMART goals and having employees arrive on time and engage before meetings are highly valued but underperformed. The study also emphasizes the importance of leadership, communication, and technology skills for successful meeting planning. The 5 Ps framework (Purpose, Participants, Planning, Participation, Perspective) is studied to evaluate the effectiveness of these meeting attributes. The results indicate that purpose, participants, participation, and perspective are well-executed, while planning requires improvement. These findings provide valuable insights on how small businesses can enhance meeting effectiveness despite limited resources
Quantifying Freshwater Salinization Impacts on Nitrate Removal via Denitrification in Urban Streams
Full text linkAs the urban world expands, the construction of impervious surfaces increases erosion and runoff into nearby streams. Urbanization also adds waste from human activity into the environment. One of these wastes is runoff from road salt application in winter months, which can increase stream salinization and interfere with other important ecological processes, such as denitrification. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare nitrate removal via denitrification between two urban streams to understand the role of road salts in freshwater salinization. We compared conductivity measurements between the streams to see how background conductivity (a proxy for salinity) influences resilience of denitrification to salinization. We also compared how typical road salts and road salts with beet juice (an “eco-friendly” alternative) have different effects on denitrification, to understand the impacts of road salts in urban streams. In addition, we collected samples and ran analyses in winter and summer to understand if seasonal salt holdover impacts denitrification rates. We nitrogen transformation rates were significantly different between the two streams with different background conductivities (p0.1). Our work sheds light on the potential road salt impacts on important ecological processes, as well as assessing if “eco-friendly” alternatives have unexpected impacts on ecosystem functions. These data and results can inform road salt usage, as well as protection and conservation efforts towards urban streams
Breakthrough: How Committed, Long-Term Supports for Middle and High School Students Help Unlock the Power of Education and Create a Lifetime of Opportunity
No full textThis project explores the impact of Breakthrough, a program dedicated to supporting first-generation college-bound students, through the lens of a teaching fellow\u27s summer experience. With a mission to grow educational opportunity, Breakthrough provides academic enrichment, mentorship, and support starting in middle school to ensure college becomes an option for all of its students.
This research highlights experiential data from a teaching fellow’s week-by-week responsibilities. This project seeks to share the stories of different roles within the program and their influence on student outcomes, academic pathways, and personal growth. The research highlights the unique structure of Breakthrough’s support system and its emphasis on collaboration, leadership development, and mentorship.
The project emphasizes the great impact of relational teaching and mentorship on both students and program leaders. For students, the program fosters confidence, academic success, and a sense of belonging, while for teaching fellows, it builds leadership and classroom management skills that extend far beyond the internship
Out of Orbit? European Space Collaboration in Post-Brexit Europe
No full textThis paper explores the historical role of the UK within the European Space Agency in light of the United Kingdom\u27s exit from the European Union
