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Identifying Barriers to Implemention of PBIS
No full textImplementation fidelity is vital to the success of any evidenced based practice. In this study, the researcher examines a Junior High School teaching staff with the goal of improving implementation fidelity of positive behavioral interventions and supports. The researcher conducts a mixed methods qualitative study of 23 teachers on site to answer the research question, "What are the barriers that exist at a Junior High School that prevent teachers from implementing positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) with fidelity". The data received includes open-ended survey results from 23 teachers and three in depth interviews that are used to validate the interpretation of the survey responses. The data is then compared to existing studies results and analyzed and coded into three themes that support relevant and specific findings that answer the research question. The results of the study provide three themes as barriers to implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports at the Junior High School including, lack of buy-in, lack of time, and lack of training. The results are shared with the leadership team at the Junior High School to strategize next steps and improve implementation. Existing research on identifying barriers to implementation and prioritizing next steps highlight the need for specific case studies as each school site will have unique components to examine. This study reflects the current research in that the themes identified are not unique, however the specific barriers found are vital to determining the specific strategy for improvement of implementation fidelity. Keywords: Barriers to Implementation, Implementation Fidelity, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS
Navigating Teacher Burnout: Understanding Causes and Leadership Strategies for Sustainable Solutions in Education
No full textThis thesis investigates the relationship between perceived leadership styles and levels of teacher burnout in K-12 in Monterey County, California. The central research question guiding the study is: What is the relationship between perceived leadership styles and levels of teacher burnout in K-12 public and charter schools in Monterey County? The study addresses growing concerns about teacher well-being, educator retention, and the impact of school leadership on burnout in high-stress educational environments. A mixed-methods design was used, integrating quantitative data from the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with local educators. The research focused on a specific geographic region to allow for contextual depth while capturing a diverse range of school settings. This approach enabled the triangulation of data sources, strengthening the credibility and validity of findings. Results indicate that transformational leadership practices such as visibility, active listening, and shared decision-making are associated with lower levels of emotional exhaustion among teachers. Conversely, transactional and laissez-faire leadership styles correlated with higher burnout levels. The study highlights leadership responsiveness as a critical protective factor against burnout. Recommendations include professional development on transformational leadership practices, systems of support for teachers, and intentional structures for teacher voice and engagement. These findings have implications for leadership preparation, educational policy, and retention strategies. By addressing the root causes of teacher burnout, this research contributes to the broader goal of creating sustainable, supportive learning environments
F2S - Strategic Business Plan for Sustainable Growth
No full textFreedom2Succeed is a nonprofit organization in San Diego County, California. Their mission is to disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline and reduce recidivism through empowering at-promise youth and returning citizens. Their approach is unique by incorporating technology, arts, and education to develop realistic, simulation-based eLearning modules. The purpose of this report is to develop a comprehensive business plan supporting F2S' operations and expansion. The key components of this include identifying opportunities to support scaling and growth, and a go-to-market strategy for monetizing the simulation-based eLearning modules. This report uses a range of comprehensive research methods. Geographic Information Systems analysis was conducted to identify market expansion opportunities and locate the donor populations. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used for competitor benchmarking. Financial modeling was conducted using Monte Carlo simulations for forecasting grant acceptance and using comparable organizations and industry reports to calculate the compound annual growth rate. As a result of these research processes key findings and opportunities were revealed. South San Diego was identified as the most suitable based on target demographic information. Potential donors were geographically concentrated around Rancho Santa Fe. As a result of the Analytical Hierarchy Process, F2S was second, scoring high in mission alignment and impact metrics, but scoring low in scalability and geographic reach. These findings helped guide the strategic recommendations. Based on the geographic location of the target demographic, expanding to Gompers, Lincoln, Hoover, and 37ECB should be the next few schools. A geotargeted marketing strategy was developed to build brand recognition in high-indexing donor zip codes with three stages: awareness, engagement, and conversion. The go-to-market strategy for the eLearning modules is structured in a three-phase process. First, a freemium model encourages early adoption and feedback eventually transitioning to a cost-plus pricing model embedded in contracts. The final phase is a standalone licensing model ranging from one person to entire institutions. The financial analysis revealed a revenue compound annual growth rate of 22% over the next five years with 220,000 in 2023. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation F2S can expect to receive $85,000 in grants that it applied to for the remainder of 2025. All these growth methods are designed to achieve sustainable growth, generate long-term funding opportunities, and organizational visibility for Freedom2Succeed while supporting Freeedom2Succeed's mission of disrupting the prison cycle. Successfully executing this business plan can significantly amplify F2S' social impact on the communities it works in, ultimately empowering more returning citizens and at-promise youth
Robust VLC for Vehicular Networks: Design and Performance Evaluation
No full textDependable communication between vehicles is the essential factor for improving road safety and enabling autonomous driving. A better alternative to the traditional RF (Radio Frequency) methods is presented by the VLC (Visible Light Communication) for V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) and V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure) communication, with the advantage of being immune to electromagnetic interference and uninterrupted integration with automotive lighting. This study helps evaluate and compare the performances of different modulation techniques like ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying), BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying), and PPM (Pulse Position Modulation) in VLC environments under varying weather conditions, in the simulation domain of OptiSystem. Some of the key measurements considered are BER (Bit Error Rate), Q-Factor (Quality Factor), and SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio), disclosing that even in adverse weather conditions PPM offers better performance with lower BER and higher Q-Factor. These results highlight PPM's potential as a robust and sustainable modulation technique for Intelligent Transportation Systems, where high reliability in V2V and V2I communication is paramount
Integrating Image and Text Modalities for Enhanced Understanding and Interpretation through Machine Learning
No full textIn recent years, advanced data analysis and interpretations have relied heavily on machine learning techniques that fuse image and text data. In the past, however, machine learning models have been developed concentrically to one specific modality which has inhibited the processes that are inherently multilayered. Models based on text can give a good description while a model based on image can capture good images, but these modes cannot be operated separately otherwise the information which can be obtained by integrating all the modes is lost. This research investigates how convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can be employed to work on images while recurrent neural networks (RNNs) can be used to handle text, which makes it possible to deal with both image and text within one system. Since both pictures and words can be used when describing the same thing, intensive extreme examples of multimodal learning would be tasks like image captioning or emotion prediction, as they would flourish in information richness using both text and images. The study explores the way CNNs and RNNs, as well as newer methods on transformer and attention mechanisms, are enhancing the alignment of multimodal data. These improvements allow the models to attend to certain parts of the information, which helps in better comprehension of the text-image information and its relationship. This project intends to formulate a deep learning framework that can utilize many types of input data rather than the conventional single type of input data models. It seeks to develop systems that will fit into all types of functional interactions in real life. On this way, it is anticipated that the system will be capable of interpreting human information in a more ultimate way, better than is currently available, as well as machine understanding which will be at a higher level and degree of accuracy. This work looks forward to being part of the further developments in artificial intelligence by showing the possible evolution of data acquisition and processing brought about by multimodal learning, which can then bridge the gap in understanding with that of a human
An analytical model of gallium nitride MESFET for parasitic capacitance for improvement of frequency response
Get PDFIncreasingly chosen for high-power and microwave frequency applications, Gallium Nitride (GaN) Metal-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors (MESFETs) are presented in this work in a thorough analytical model. Wide bandgap characteristics of GaN-based devices provide major benefits for RF and high-frequency applications including improved thermal stability and higher breakdown voltage. This model precisely has defined fundamental device behaviors, including Current-Voltage (I-V) and Capacitance-Voltage (C-V) characteristics, transconductance, and noise figure by integrating the impacts of parasitic resistances and gate length modulation. The model accurately integrates charge sharing in the gate depletion zone by dividing the gate length into three distinct components, drain current in linear, non-linear and saturation operational regions. The results indicate that transconductance improves in direct proportion to gate-source voltage, hence improving signal amplification capabilities essential for microwave applications. The model indicates that drain conductance is initially elevated at low drain-source voltages but diminishes as the voltage increases, demonstrating the modulation of conductance under different gate-source and drain-source biases. Significantly minimizing the parasitic resistances improves the noise figure, a crucial element for preserving signal integrity in high-frequency applications. This model serves as an effective tool for the design and optimization of GaN MESFETs, enhancing their function in high power RF applications and supporting the development of flexible, efficient systems for commercial and military telecommunications
Bluetooth-Enabled FSR-Equipped Insole Prototype for Gait Asymmetry Correction
Get PDFThis work presents a wearable insole device designed to provide real-time walk force data for analyzing and correcting the gait asymmetries often exhibited by stroke survivors and other patients with neurological disorders. The prototype device features adjustable insoles equipped with twelve Force Sensing Resistors (FSRs), microcontrollers, and Bluetooth modules to transmit force measurements collected during walking to an external device. A gait analysis algorithm processes these signals to detect gait events such as heel strikes and toe-offs in order to accurately determine stance and swing times. Preliminary results demonstrate the device's ability to report walk force profiles and stance and swing periods aligning with expected gait patterns. The device has potential applications in instrumented gait analysis and rehabilitation, supporting clinicians and physical therapists in developing focused treatment plans. The device also has potential for continued expansion including IMU incorporation and adjustment to enable real-time gait analysis
Second Generation Oral History Project Emily. Exploring Cultural Identity through the Vietnamese American Experience
No full textThe interview covers the experiences of a 20-year-old Vietnamese American woman growing up in San Francisco. She discusses her family's immigration history, cultural traditions, language fluency, and sense of identity. Key points include her bilingual upbringing, the importance of language in maintaining cultural connections, navigating between Vietnamese and American influences, and the generational differences between first and second-generation Vietnamese Americans. The summary provides a comprehensive overview of the interviewee's perspectives on her ethnic and cultural identity
Painting Like Michelangelo: Using Augmented Reality to Maintain Postural Stability During Overhead Work
No full text[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] Overhead work is defined as conducting work at or above shoulder height. Those who tend to use overhead work in their daily life are technical workers such as mechanics, electronics and construction workers. When done over an extended period of time, these technical workers begin to see a decrease in their balance control and postural stability. However, maintaining balance is not the top priority for these individuals, while the task goal is of utmost importance (i.e reaching for tools and task completion). Throughout long bouts of overhead work, individuals begin to see an increase in their postural sway in both the anterior/posterior and medial/lateral directions. A small amount of postural sway is a natural occurrence; however, when there is an atypical increase in sway the chance of fall related injuries is increased. The somatosensory system, visual system and muscular fatigue contribute to either increasing or decreasing postural control. To our benefit, using visually-guided saccades, or shifting one's gaze from one object to another, we are able to minimize our magnitude of postural sway. However, to our disadvantage, when there is an impairment to our proprioception and an increase in localized muscle fatigue of the lower limbs, there is an increase of postural sway. Augmented Reality (AR) provides an avenue to aid overhead workers to maintain postural stability, rely less on their somatosensory system, and place more attentional focus on the visual system. Yet, use of AR to correct balance has not been explored in the literature. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of providing visual cues through the use of AR to see if AR can increase balance control in individuals completing a standing balance task. We hypothesized that, by using AR, there will be a reduction in the muscular fatigue of the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and gluteus medius (GM), and a subsequent decrease in postural sway through decreased center of pressure (COP) velocity and excursion. We recruited ten college students (N=5 women, N=5 men) to participate in this study. Participants had to be 18-65 years old, shorter than 1.9 m, taller than 1.7 m, and must have had normal or corrected to 20/20 vision. Participants were excluded from the study if they had any neurological disorders, motion sickness, chronic neck pain, injuries to the lower body within the last six months, history of seizures/epilepsy or if they conducted overhead work on a regular basis. The study was conducted over a two-day period. On the first day, participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: AR and No-AR. Electromyography (EMG) electrodes were placed on the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and gluteus medius (GM) of their dominant leg. Baseline measurements of quiet standing through recording participants' center of pressures (COP) and muscle activation were taken prior to a five-minute break (those who were in the AR condition were given an additional five-minute familiarization time to get used to the headset). Once baseline measurements were taken, participants completed a one-hour overhead task where they painted a paint by numbers. During this hour-long task, participants worked in a work to rest ratio where they worked for three minutes and then rested for one minute. During the work periods, COP excursion, velocity, total path and Ground Reaction Forces (GRFs); and muscle activation of the LG and GM were assessed. Multivariate test (MANOVA) results show the main effect of time for all dependent variables was statistically significant (p-value 0.046). Follow-up pairwise comparisons revealed that there was a significant difference in COP medial/lateral (p-value 0.039) and anterior/posterior excursion (p-value 0.016) following completion of the one-hour overhead task, for both the AR and No-AR conditions. An increase in COP excursion after completing the task may be due to participants becoming increasingly fatigued. Regardless if they were in the AR or No-AR condition, participants were unable to prevent their postural sway from increasing. The AR condition may have provided too many visual aids and was seen as a distraction; whereas, the No-AR condition provided no visual support and contributed to the increase in postural sway. Due to these findings, it appears AR is not beneficial to those completing overhead work. Future research should consider conducting research in a real overhead working environment to determine if the use of AR can benefit workers in real time
Accessibility-focused ride-sharing service and app to improve the social-emotional well-being of individuals with physical disabilities
No full text[ABSTRACT ONLY; NO FULL TEXT] Ride-sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, have been welcomed innovations due to their capabilities to allow people to travel with more ease and with a convenient couple of clicks. Unfortunately, although ride-sharing services do exist for those with physical disabilities, they are subpar due to a lack of vehicles and driver education about the needs of those with physical disabilities. This imposes a transportation barrier to individuals with mobility impairments, which can impact their overall social and emotional wellness due to the increased probability of loneliness and social isolation as well as loss of financial opportunities. The objective of this thesis is to develop a plan for a riding-sharing service, with an accompanying mobile app, that serves individuals with physical disabilities better than the currently available options. Apoio is a ride-sharing service that plans on putting the needs and experiences of individuals with physical disabilities first. The service would consist of having several warehouses with wheelchair-accessible vans that clients could call upon, via an app or website, to take them from one place to another. For the sake of this project with limited resources and supplies, testing of the service will be hypothetical or done on a smaller scale. In each van, there would be two people for safety measures. Their roles will consist of a driver, who will drive the vehicle, and a care assistant, who will help with the loading and offloading of passengers. Both personnel will be trained in disability rights, wheelchair handling, first aid, and compassionate care practices. Analyses will be done on the social-emotional well-being of through World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)), as well as through interviews about how well the app functions. The app will be designed according to WCAG 2.0 and other W3C/WAI Guidelines to meet universal standards for accessibility. App testing will be conducted before and throughout the launch of the program and take feedback from clients. Thus, the goal of this thesis is to create a functional app for a ride-sharing service geared toward individuals with physical and mobility disabilities