SPARK Bethel University
Not a member yet
2160 research outputs found
Sort by
Clear Water- An Interconnected Story of History, Social Justice, and Theology
No full textMelanie Walby is an award-winning designer, illustrator, and creative director. Since 2010, her experience at various ad agencies, design firms and design-centered nonprofits in Minneapolis have taught her the power of visual communication and narrative change. Throughout her typographic posters and her coffee table book Clear Water she weaves together history, social justice, and theology as an interconnected story. Originally written and designed throughout 2020 as an art exhibit, this work is a collection of illustrations and designs that take the reader through an intimate and deeply spiritual conversation between two Black women — leaving people with an understanding of dismantling racism that feels more spiritual than divisive.https://spark.bethel.edu/primetime-presentations/1015/thumbnail.jp
The Impact of Implementing a Four-Day School Week
No full textThis thesis investigates the impact of the four-day school week (4DSW) on stakeholders in public education. It reports research on many impact areas such as student achievement, stakeholder well-being, and finances. While the 4DSW model shows promise in alleviating some financial and staffing pressures, its effects on academic and overall student well being outcomes are varied. This study also examines the potential for fifth-day programming to reduce negative impacts. Such programming may include targeted instruction to support struggling learners and offer enrichment for advanced students, which could mitigate academic drawbacks. Additionally, it explores the role of the 4DSW in improving work-life balance for educators, enhancing teacher recruitment and retention, and improving family dynamics. Findings underscore the need for tailored implementation strategies and further research to optimize benefits while addressing challenges within this model
College Students Formerly in Foster Care and Basic Needs Insecurity
No full textThis quantitative study explored the role of foster care experience for undergraduate college students who struggle with housing and/or food insecurity. Using data from the 2019-2020 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20), this research analyzed the relationship between college students who have prior experience as an orphan, ward of court, emancipated minor, legal guardianship or foster care, and housing insecurity, food insecurity, and the co-occurrence of housing and food insecurity. Using chi-square analyses, the results showed that there is a significant (
More Mirrors in Leadership for Latina Students: A Quantitative Study on the Retention and Attrition of K–12 Latina Principals in the United States
No full textThis quantitative study examined the impact of job satisfaction and salary on Latina principals\u27 decisions to remain in their current positions. The research utilized data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS). A logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between independent variables, such as time spent with students and parents, salary, and job satisfaction, and the dependent variable of Latina principal retention. and data analysis utilizing DataLab. The results indicated that job satisfaction was positively associated with retention, while salary was not a significant predictor. The study aimed to contribute to strategies that support the advancement and retention of Latina educational leaders in the United States. Future research should explore additional factors, such as organizational culture, mentorship, and work-life balance, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by Latina principals
Divorcing Your OPM: Moving from an Outsourced Online Program Management Model to a New Online Program Management Model: A Qualitative Descriptive Case Study
No full textThe demand for flexible online learning models, fueled by technological advancements and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has necessitated creative solutions to support millions of students enrolled in online programs. Higher Education leaders, faced with this growing demand and lacking expertise in online learning, have turned to outsourced business models, such as for-profit online program management partnerships (OPM), to attract, retain, and support new non-traditional student populations. The decision to outsource has been driven by competitive pressures, a desire for speed to market, a lack of initial capital, the desire to shift risk, and a lack of internal expertise). Institutions that understand online support practices may consider transitioning from OPM contracts to build internal capacity and capabilities. However, limited research examples of institutions that have left OPM partnerships to build new models hinder institutional leaders\u27 ability to learn from others’ experiences. Research uncovered three themes related to leaving the OPM partnership: Assessment and Decision Making – why the university left the OPM. Managing change and planning for the future – How PFBU (the pseudonym for the institution) built a new model. The impact of divorcing the OPM. Theme 1: Assessment and Decision Making – Why the University Left the OPM. Theme 2: Managing Change and Planning for the Future – How PFBU Built a New Model, Theme 3: The Impact of Divorcing the OPM. The study\u27s recommendations suggest that an investment will be needed to build a new model; new models may build on institutional strengths while outsourcing areas in which they lack expertise and strong leadership and change management expertise are essential. This study offers insights to aid higher education practitioners in navigating OPM partnerships and building new service models for a viable future.https://spark.bethel.edu/edd-showcase-2021/1016/thumbnail.jp
The Difficulties Pastors Face in Shepherding the Unregenerate Within Their Congregations
Get PDFPastors can face difficulties when trying to shepherd unregenerate people in their congregations. This qualitative case study investigated the characteristics of the difficulties and what effects they can have on pastors. A biblical and theological review of the book of Matthew provided an understanding of the theme of the “many and the few,” the wide and narrow gates, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and judging others. In addition, Matthew’s Gospel provided an understanding of defining the unregenerate and regenerate. The pastoral epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus provided a theological understanding of pastors\u27 roles, responsibilities, and duties in relation to the unregenerate and regenerate believers. A literature review explored critical elements of the difficulties pastors face, including cultural Christianity, its perspective on regeneration, cheap grace, evangelism in a post-Christian culture, challenges inherent to pastoral ministry, and burnout. Furthermore, this study sought to understand how pastors and elders in the Forest Lakes District in the Evangelical Free Church of America define the unregenerate in their congregations, shepherd them, address conflict and challenges, and if they have developed and implemented strategies. Interviews were conducted with the pastors, and the elders completed an online questionnaire. The research revealed a substantial need for a definitive strategy in ministering to the unregenerate. Lastly, the study showed that pastors could experience burnout from stress due to conflict with some unregenerate people and from dealing with wolves in congregations
A Model for Transformational Leadership Development in Urban Ministry Contexts
Get PDFThe context of this thesis project, “A Model for Transformational Leadership Development in Urban Ministry Contexts,” is the Beloved Community Cooperative Ministry (BCCM) in Baltimore, Maryland. The BCCM was formed in July 2020 and is comprised of three urban United Methodist churches—Epworth Chapel UMC, Sharp Street Memorial UMC, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial UMC. The problem that this project investigated and addressed is the need for transformational leadership development training for leaders (clergy and laity) serving in urban ministry contexts, specifically among the three churches that comprise the BCCM. In response to this problem, the researcher (a) explored biblical models of transformational leadership of Nehemiah and Paul, (b) reviewed relevant literature on characteristics of urban ministry and transformational leadership, (c) conducted a qualitative case study on the three BCCM churches to determine training needs for developing transformational leaders, which included conducting site visits with three additional United Methodist Church, and (d) developed a framework for a transformational leadership development model for leaders (clergy and laity) serving in urban ministry contexts. The framework was informed by insights gleaned from the biblical models of transformational leadership of Nehemiah and Paul, the literature reviewed from urban ministry and transformational leadership, and the qualitative case study on the three BCCM churches, and involved developing and conducting five leadership development training modules, which focused on developing leaders (lay and clergy) serving in urban ministry contexts
Differences in Anaerobic Power and Fatigue Index in Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
Get PDFPURPOSE: The menstrual cycle has only recently become a more popular area to explore by researchers, and, because of this, there is a lack of research done on the menstrual cycle and the effects it has on females. The purpose of this research was to examine the effects that the phases of the menstrual cycle, in accordance with the surges and lulls of estrogen, have on performance outcomes.
METHODS: Twenty-six college-aged subjects who were moderately active based on ACSM guidelines and who have a menstrual cycle were included in two sessions of testing. For the first session, subjects completed the consent forms required. Secondly, the subjects’ blood pressure, height, and weight were recorded. Next, the subject\u27s girth measurements around the waist, hips, and thigh were taken. After, the subjects were instructed to step on the Inbody 570 machine and finally, the subjects participated in the 30 second Wingate Test which showed mean watts, peak watts, fatigue index, anaerobic capacity, and anaerobic power.
RESULTS: A paired samples T-test was used to show the difference in the two different phases of the menstrual cycle tests for anaerobic capacity, anaerobic power, fatigue index, mean watts, and peak watts. No significance (p \u3c 0.05) was found between the early follicular phase and the luteal phase for all variables.
CONCLUSION: Anaerobic performance and fatigue index are not affected by the different phases of the menstrual cycle. This can be reflected in the non-significant change in results for the two different phases
A Literature Review: Creating and Maintaining Inclusion
Get PDFThis literature review examines the different parts that are needed in order to create and maintain an inclusive classroom. The success of students in an inclusive classroom, both special education and general education students, can be affected negatively or positively depending on the teacher’s attitudes toward inclusion and the type of methodology that they use in their classrooms. For teachers to have the knowledge of what practices they should use in the classroom and form a positive attitude toward inclusion, they must have proper training. This training can include ongoing professional development, support from the administration, and training from a university. The professional development the teachers receive must include the teacher in the development and planning of it so it is relevant to the teachers and their classrooms
Culturally Oriented Diabetes Education for Somali Immigrants of Minneapolis
Get PDFThis project aims to support Somali patients at Axis Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN by providing education on the link between diet and blood glucose level as well as the impact of that on the disease progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Axis Medical Center serves many Somali immigrant patients. Due to the language barrier between the Somali patients and clinicians as well as the low health literacy amongst the Somali patients, an eight minute educational video with visual aids was created to facilitate diabetes education in this population. In the educational video, a Somali PA-C explains the pathophysiology of T2D to a patient with a new diagnosis of T2D in Somali. Diet modifications as well as the role of monitoring hemoglobin A1C in the management of T2D are also addressed in the video. The video was uploaded to the YouTube account of Mohamed Adan, PA-C from Axis Medical Center in January 2023 and hence was readily available to both patients and other clinicians at Axis Medical Center. Since then, the video has become an effective tool in pioneering Somali patient education at Axis Medical Center. One hundred thirteen views were generated and PA Adan has since uploaded two additional health education videos in Somali. Somali patients and other clinicians at Axis Medical Center have encouraged PA Adan to make more videos for Somali health education