ScholarWorks (California State University)
Not a member yet
87523 research outputs found
Sort by
The Meaning of Intelligence: A Realist Phenomenological Groundwork for a Philosophy of AI, Transhumanism, and Posthumanism
No full textThis chapter, which uses the methods of realist phenomenology (Seifert, 2009),provides a philosophical groundwork for future discussions of Artificial Intelligence ("AI"),which turns out to be ASI (Artificial Simulated Intelligence). This paper will examine briefly its tremendous potential benefits and risks for humanity, and deal with the related fantasies and ideologies of transhumanism and "posthumanism." The core results of the research presented here consist of four main senses of "intelligence" and their corresponding objects, as well as of a fifth and ultimate one, that is the foundation of all the others, but should better be called the intelligible rather than intelligence. Moreover, the chapter proposes a sixth sense of "intelligence" as the only appropriate one for characterizing the so-called "artificial intelligence" of AI, which will be shown to be nothing more nor less than the technical wonderwork of Artificial Simulated Intelligence/ASI. Based on this groundwork, the many potential benefits and risks AI/ASI poses for present and future humanity will be laid out
Goddesses Given Voice: Trauma and Myth in Natsuo Kirino's the Goddess Chronicle and Madeline Miller's Circe
No full textThis paper explores the resurgence of mythic revisionism in literature, analysing goddesses and their traumatic experiences in Natsuo Kirino's The Goddess Chronicle (2008) and Madeline Miller's Circe (2018). Both authors spotlight marginalized female characters through retellings, offering fresh interpretations of Izanami and Circe. The paper examines how Kirino and Miller imbue their mythic worlds with trauma, contributing to the literary trauma discourse. Using insights from scholars like Cathy Caruth (1996), Shoshanna Felman (2003), and Dominic LaCapra (2004), the analysis traces how trauma shapes narrative construction, showing how fantastic literature, particularly revisionist mythology, articulates suffering and resilience. The trauma studies framework reveals how mythological narratives can capture complex emotional landscapes, demonstrating that Kirino and Miller not only adapt myths but also reflect on the nuanced impact of trauma on identity and agency. This work highlights the role of myth in expressing the intricate dimensions of trauma and survival
From Tradition to Transformation: Critically Exploring the Influence of Buddhist Education on Indin Society
No full textIndia's well-endowed history is fashioned by the admixture of various cultures, religions, and philosophies. One of the prominent religions – Buddhism- profoundly impacted the socio-cultural and religious structure of Indian society. Lord Buddha's teachings emerged as a glowing light that led people to elevate themselves from the systemic and oppressive practices prevalent in the society of those times. In this article, I will explore critically the influence and transformative role of the Buddhist education system on the ancient traditional Indian society, its fundamental features, and its relevance in modern times. Based on secondary sources, the paper adopts a secondary critical analysis approach in reviewing existing literature and content relevant to the study
Teacher Burnout: Preparation for the Worst, or Inspiring Fear?
No full textThis study was conducted to identify the causes of teacher burnout, and explores possible prevention strategies to better understand the pressures that educators face on a daily basis. Social cognitive theories helped to guide this research away from the dominantly present fear-based narrative surrounding the teaching profession, in order to view the reality of this multifaceted phenomenon from a specified lens. This study aims to identify contributing factors and any underlying causes to burnout, while exploring possible strategies for reducing burnout and prioritizing educators' health and well-being. Instead of fueling anxiety, this study seeks to understand these goals while identifying compassionate solutions to decrease burnout levels. The findings emphasize that high levels of burnout are seen in direct relation to elevated stress placed on educators, a lack of support systems, and low levels of social-emotional competence within educators themselves. Recommendations include the following; the creation of burnout preventions programs within undergraduate coursework possibly to be revisited during one's career, the implementation of social-emotional learning practices within the administration or district structurally, and taking time to prioritize one's own mental health consistently in order to avoid excess stressors from entering the workplace
Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices to Support Student Populations Suffering From Adverse Childhood Experiences
No full textThis study explores the implementation of trauma-informed practices in addressing the negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). It emphasizes the urgency of supporting these students as ACEs are prominent and are linked to several negative social, behavioral, academic, and health outcomes. Using Restorative Practice as a theoretical framework, this study dives into the effective elements of implementing trauma-informed practices and systems to inform future implementations that support students with ACEs. The data was collected through an interview with an experienced elementary school educator in a region with high ACE rates. The study's findings emphasize that strategies facilitating social interaction and discussion promote positive socioemotional outcomes in students, that work needs to be done to educate staff about trauma-informed practices and systems to break resistance to changing existing systems, and the importance of building school connectedness through cultivating positive relationships between teachers and students. The study also recognized the limitations of not having long-term data on current trauma-informed systems, or data about targetted interventions to support students with specific ACEs
The Push for Mindset Education: Investing in the Well Being of our Students
No full textUtilizing the theoretical framework of social cognitive theory, this qualitative study investigates the effects of implementing mindset theory into pedagogical practices to increase student motivation. Three major findings were discovered during my inquiry: (a) Teachers shape mindset, intentionally or unintentionally, (b) early and ongoing mindset interventions- a concept coined as "mindset maintenance"- are crucial for developing and maintaining a growth mindset, and (c) growth mindset can benefit every student, regardless of their personal circumstances. A key implication of the study is that mindset interventions and pedagogy should be implemented across every grade level to help quel learned helplessness and increase student motivation and resilience. Teachers need to be trained in mindset theory to properly implement interventions
Evaluating the efficacy of fecal sampling as a non-invasive tool for endocrine monitoring in critically endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus)
No full textAfrican penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are an endangered species of seabird experiencing sharp population declines due to food scarcity, habitat loss, and human disturbance. Breeding and molting are physiologically important processes that are critical for population growth and survivability and are hormonally regulated. Therefore, understanding the endocrine cycles of African penguins, particularly as they relate to breeding and molting, is a crucial next step in conservation efforts. Current endocrine data is sparce, as traditional endocrine monitoring techniques that rely on plasma collection are invasive, logistically difficult, and are recommended against during stressful periods such as molting. This research investigates the use of fecal sampling as a non-invasive endocrine monitoring alternative to plasma sampling over a one-year period. Monthly plasma and fecal samples were collected from June 11th, 2024 to May 28th, 2025, and hormonal analyses were conducted for primary sex steroid (progesterone for females and testosterone for males) and stress hormones (corticosterone). Radioimmunoassays for plasma and fecal samples were validated via parallelism analyses, which confirmed strong immunological similarity between plasma and fecal extracts and their respective standard curves for all hormones. Plasma concentrations of progesterone in females and testosterone in males exhibited significant seasonal variation throughout the sampling period, as average concentrations of respective hormones were elevated prior to breeding and declined prior to molting in both sexes. Conversely, average fecal concentrations of progesterone in females, testosterone in males, and corticosterone in both sexes did not display significant variation throughout the sampling period. However, individual fecal concentrations of progesterone and testosterone were elevated prior to breeding and decreased prior to molting, which aligns with patterns observed in individual plasma concentrations. However, correlational analyses did not find a significant relationship between plasma and fecal concentrations in either progesterone or testosterone. This mismatch may be due to a variety of factors, most notably temporal differences in hormonal concentrations with plasma representing instantaneous circulation and fecal representing longer-term average concentrations. Although fecal concentrations did not directly follow plasma concentrations, they still appear to reflect broad physiological patterns, such as breeding and molting cycles, and follow similar trends around these physiologically important periods. Overall, these results support the use of fecal sampling as a viable, minimally invasive tool endocrine monitoring in African penguins
Including Marginalized Perspectives: Creating an Inclusive History Curriculum for Elementary Classes
No full textIn a country whose history is so diverse, it would make sense to say that history could be looked at through many perspectives. Women, communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, the impoverished–these groups all play a role in the history of the United States. Yet, marginalized communities continue to be underrepresented in social studies textbooks and classroom instruction. This study is a literature review which focuses on the importance of the representation of marginalized perspectives in elementary social studies curriculum in the United States. Results show three major themes that exist within this problem: (1) social studies textbooks consistently underrepresent marginalized perspectives, (2) teachers are hesitant to include marginalized perspectives in their history curriculum due to potential backlash, and (3) teaching historical literacy is a pathway to a more representative social studies curriculum. With the representation of marginalized perspectives, students can begin to understand their peers, their neighbors, and their community members and apply this understanding to their own life in a meaningful way
Voices Unheard: Exploring the Impact of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy on English Language Learners' Perceptions of Inclusivity, Academic Growth, and Social Emotional Well Being
No full textHistorically, English Language learners are one of the lowest scoring demographics in the California School System. As school systems become more diverse, educators must elect to utilize pedagogy that is both linguistically and culturally inclusive. Educators must take diversification as a call to action and enact change in their daily classroom practices. The following study aims to explore the following: What are the perceptions and impacts of culturally responsive and linguistically inclusive pedagogy on English Language Learners in these three factors: Academic Performance, Inclusivity, and Social-Emotional Well Being. The study followed a purposive sampling method which enabled the researcher to carefully select 5 participants. Each participant was enrolled in School Site A's English Language Development class and had recently immigrated to the United States from Mexico. The study examined how an educator implemented inclusive pedagogy in their classroom and the reported effects of culturally and linguistically responsive teaching practices. A qualitative research approach was utilized in order to review and analyze extant data, allowing the researcher to develop a deeper understanding of the participants' lived experiences. The researcher compared journal entries, reflections, and survey results to assess the validity of the theoretical framework. Results yielded a positive outcome for the participants' academic success, sense of belonging, and social-emotional well being. Participants displayed a greater level of confidence and willingness to advocate for themselves. Their final journal entries and survey results displayed the positive effects that the theoretical framework can have on scholars. The limitation presented in the study is the sample size of five participants. This study further aides the existing research regarding English Language Learners
Strategic CRM Insights for Advisor Tech Partners: Market Research & Recommendations
No full textFor Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firms, customer relationship management (CRM) systems are essential to maintaining client service standards, ensuring compliance, and enabling operational scale. However, many firms face inefficiencies that stem from fragmented software, underutilized automation, and inconsistent workflows. Advisor Tech Partners (ATP), a boutique consulting firm focused on CRM optimization and automation for RIAs, has built a reputation for solving these issues, yet the firm lacks broad-based market intelligence to inform its next phase of strategic growth. To address this, our MBA team conducted a regional market research project targeting RIA firms in San Diego County. A digital survey was distributed to over 150 firms, resulting in 35 qualified responses. Respondents, primarily senior executives and operations leaders, shared information about CRM platforms, workflow challenges, and supporting technology tools. In addition, ATP provided internal access to client-facing templates, implementation archives, and workflow documentation, allowing us to cross-reference survey findings with ATP's current service model. The data revealed that integration (74%), automation (54%), and platform complexity (40%) are the most common sources of inefficiency. Firms frequently rely on a patchwork of third-party tools, which compounds inefficiencies in reporting, communication, and data entry. While Salesforce remains the most used CRM, there is clear momentum toward Wealthbox, especially among firms seeking simpler, advisor-specific functionality. These findings suggest a need for solutions that streamline operations across platforms, enhance post-implementation support, and reduce manual intervention. By aligning its offerings with documented industry pain points, the firm can refine its messaging, reposition its CRM Efficiency Scorecard as a lead-generation tool, and deepen its role as a long-term partner to RIA firms seeking scalable solutions. This research provides the foundation for ATP to strengthen its market differentiation and expand its influence within the evolving RIA technology ecosystem